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The LCRIG CVS Supplier Engagement webinar on the 9th February brought together representatives from central government, local authorities, industry suppliers and technology providers to discuss the development of the Connected Vehicle Services (CVS) (V2X) Framework. The session was independently facilitated by Jo Britton and led by Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director of LCRIG, with a keynote contribution from Darren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for Transport (DfT).
The primary purpose of the session was to engage the supply side of the market, raise awareness of the CVS Framework, test industry readiness, and gather feedback to inform the framework's ongoing development. Importantly, the session was positioned as an informal consultation, with an emphasis on open and honest feedback rather than decision-making, funding commitments, or procurement activity.
The CVS Framework is intended to define, at a national level, the connected services that road users, network operators, and authorities should expect from the road transport system. The framework is not a procurement framework; rather, it is a policy and service definition tool that will help guide future investment, standards development, and market coordination.
DfT emphasised that connected vehicle services already exist in various forms, including navigation services, real-time traffic information, in-vehicle alerts, and data-driven network management tools. However, these services often operate in isolation, are inconsistently delivered, or are accessible only to certain users. The CVS Framework aims to ensure that connected services are open, interoperable, inclusive, and consistently available, supporting outcomes such as improved road safety, cleaner transport, and more efficient network operations.
A key message from DfT was that connected vehicles are not limited to high-end or autonomous vehicles. Any vehicle carrying a mobile phone, for example, can be considered "connected". Similarly, infrastructure systems such as traffic signal control, parking systems, air quality sensors, and network management platforms already generate substantial amounts of data that could support connected services.
Connected Vehicle Services were described as the intelligent use of data flowing between vehicles, infrastructure, and users, enabling better information, guidance, and decision-making across the transport network. The focus is on services and outcomes, not on mandating specific technologies or applications.
The CVS Framework is being developed to provide a plain-English definition of the services the UK should aspire to deliver, rather than detailed technical specifications. These service definitions will help:
DfT stressed that the framework is intended to be outcome-based, allowing suppliers flexibility in how services are delivered while ensuring consistency at the user level.
The framework conceptualises connected services across three broad data streams:
1. Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (Stream 1) - This includes data from the road network being made available to vehicles and users, such as speed limits, roadworks, closures, signal timings, incidents, and safety warnings. These services can support functions such as in-vehicle alerts, green-light advisory systems, and hazard notifications.
2. Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (Stream 2) - This involves data generated by vehicles and users being shared with network operators to improve understanding of traffic conditions, asset performance, safety issues, and network efficiency. Examples include congestion data, journey times, and safety-critical alerts.
3. Two-Way Transactional Services (Stream 3) - These more advanced services, such as payments, parking management, and kerbside access control, are recognised as future opportunities but are currently considered longer-term.
The initial focus of the CVS Framework is on Streams 1 and 2, which can be delivered using existing or near-market technologies.
Throughout the session, participants were asked to respond to live polling questions, providing valuable insight into market readiness and perception.
Key findings included:
Safety-related services, traffic management, roadworks information, and emergency services support were among the most commonly cited service areas already being delivered.
Participants consistently highlighted several factors that could limit their ability to deliver CVS services at scale:
DfT acknowledged these concerns and noted that the framework itself is intended to address some of these barriers by clarifying expectations and enabling more consistent procurement and deployment.
Questions were raised about governance, competition, and alignment with existing platforms such as CROADS and European initiatives. DfT confirmed that:
When asked to describe how they felt about connected vehicle services, participants expressed a mix of optimism, interest, and frustration. A recurring theme was frustration that many services could already be delivered using existing technology, but progress has been slow in the UK compared to parts of Europe.
DfT acknowledged this sentiment and emphasised that the current work is intended to accelerate progress by creating a shared national direction.
The session concluded with confirmation that:
Participants were encouraged to remain engaged through the Transport Technology Forum and future events, including TTF Live.
