The development of Connected and Automated Vehicles offers various potential opportunities to improve transport in the future, but also raises possible challenges. From 2018-2019 the Department for Transport, in partnership with Sciencewise, ran a public dialogue which explored public views and aspirations on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in order to inform policy. CAVs use a range of technologies to augment or replace human driving, informed by shared information from connections to infrastructure, other vehicles and other sources.

This dialogue brought together more than 150 people in a series of three workshops in one of five locations: Abergavenny, Glasgow, Leeds, Millbrook, and Milton Keynes. Participants took part in structured discussions and activities where they could share their views, and some directly interacted with CAV technology – a first for a Sciencewise-funded dialogue process.