Transport Research in the European Research Area

U N I T E D K I N G D O M
68
TRANSPORT RESEARCH IN THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
Transport research in the United Kingdom
(UK) is carried out and commissioned by a
wide range of organisations. The Department
for Transport (DfT) is the main funder and
commissioner of public sector land transport
research in the UK. It commissions research
to support its departmental policy and
operational responsibilities through a number
of individual executive agencies, most of
which have their own research programme.
These agencies include the Highways Agency,
the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency,
the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency,
the Driving Standards Agency, the Vehicle
Certification Agency, and the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency.
The DfT also sponsors some nondepartmental
public bodies, such as the
British Transport Police Authority and
Passenger Focus, which works on behalf of
rail passengers in Great Britain. Other public
bodies sponsored by the DfT include the
Civil Aviation Authority, the Commission for
Integrated Transport, and the Disabled Persons
Transport Advisory Committee.
Other central government departments that
commission transport-related research include
the Department of Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs, the Department for Communities
and Local Government, the Department of
Energy and Climate Change, the Department
for International Development and the Office
of National Statistics.
Research is also carried out by the Devolved
National Administrations for Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland. Transport for London
and the seven Passenger Transport Executives
(covering the largest metropolitan areas
outside London: six in England and one in
Scotland) also conduct research, as do local
authorities.
The Government funds national research
councils, of which two, the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
and the Economic and Social Research Council
(ESRC), contribute significantly to transport.
A wide range of transport research is also
commissioned by semi-governmental
and non-governmental bodies, including
regulatory, strategic and advisory bodies,
charitable trusts, motoring organisations,
transport industry associations and private
companies.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
AND AGENCIES
Department for Transport (DfT)
www.dft.gov.uk
Highways Agency
www.highways.gov.uk
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
www.mcga.gov.uk
Civil Aviation Authority
www.caa.co.uk
Commission for Integrated Transport
www.cfit.gov.uk
Department for Communities and Local
Government
www.communities.gov.uk
Department of Energy and Climate
Change
www.decc.gov.uk
Office of National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk
DfT – Rail
Covering 17 projects to support the Rail
Industry Research Strategy
www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/programme.
asp?intProgrammeID=68
DfT – Regional and Local Transport
Covering 3 sub-programmes, 119 projects.
Topics within this diverse research
programme include buses and taxis,
congestion charging, cycling and walking,
light rail, local road maintenance, Local
Transport Plans, and regional transport.
www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/programme.
asp?intProgrammeID=96
DfT – Road User Safety
Covering 6 sub-themes, and approximately
200 projects. Research commissioned
within the Road Safety research programme
provides support for the UK Government
policy of meeting the national road casualty
reduction targets for 2010, as set out in the
UK’s Road Safety Strategy.
www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/programme.
asp?intProgrammeID=73