Finalist: Oscar Freeman-Davies - Transportation Planning Officer (Road Safety), Devon County Council 

Trend → Treatment → Outcome: A 10 year comparison showing transport schemes' impact on collision reduction at cluster sites

Devon County Council conducts an annual cluster site review identifying sites where there have been 5 or more collisions, within a 50m radius over the latest 5-year period of collision  data. Eight cluster sites were chosen and analysed over a 10-year period (2015–19 vs 2020–24) and compared with a countywide baseline; changes in total collisions, cyclist collisions,  and KSI were assessed before calculating financial benefits using DfT ‘Cost per Collision’ (2023).

Across cluster sites where schemes were introduced, reductions consistently exceeded the  county baseline for all collisions and cyclists. The largest reductions were schemes that reduced motor traffic, improved infrastructure, provided signage, and crossing upgrades. The value of cyclist collision reduction alone is estimated at £3.5 million across the 8 sites  analysed. This shows how scheme led transport planning alongside collision intelligence can lead to a safer system for all whilst reducing the burden on public health.

Finalist: Chris Huxtable - Transport Modeller, WSP

Benchmarking Pedestrian Crossings at Junctions

Pedestrian mobility and safety at signalised junctions are critical components of urban transport planning, yet international design standards for pedestrian crossing systems vary widely in geometry, signalisation standards, and user hierarchy. For the first time, crossing systems from around the world are tested as part of a UK road network.

Microsimulation modelling and qualitative analysis is used to benchmark the performance of seven pedestrian crossing types at signalised junctions that are not part of UK standard design, yet are used in many cities globally. The results and conclusions show promising results that indicate some of the tested crossing systems should be considered for implementation at junctions in the UK, with significant benefits in user safety, comfort and experience forecasted.

Luna Vandeweghe - Graduate Consultant (Transport Planning), WSP

Mind the Gender Gap - Tackling Inequality in Sustainable Transport 

The journey from A to B has changed in the 21st century, with public and active transport being promoted more than ever in line with the UK’s goals of achieving Net Zero. In September 2025, the government announced a £2.3 billion investment as part of the ‘Plan for Change’ to support local transport connections and provide smoother journeys using public services. However, do we all rely on public transport in the same way? How does your view of safety compare with others? Is transport really that political?

In her presentation, Luna looks to answer these questions and explores the challenges faced by women in the UK when using sustainable travel. She highlights successful initiatives in Mexico City, Osaka and Tallinn that have targeted gender inequality. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the UK’s current policies and how the challenge of women’s safety is approached differently across the globe.

Lauren Allington - CIHT South West EPG Chair

Lauren is a Transportation Planning Officer at Devon County Council, joining the team in 2021 as a graduate. She works on a range of highways, active travel and multi-modal schemes across the county, and has supported the publication of the new Local Transport Plan. She has completed an MSc in Transportation Planning and Engineering with the University of Southampton and became co-chair of the CIHT South West EPG in May 2024. She was awarded CIHT Emerging Professional of the Year in 2025.  

Chelsea Randall – CIHT South West EPG Recruitment Officer

Chelsea joined Devon County Council as a Graduate Transport Planner in 2020 and has since worked on road and active travel schemes, covering strategy and policy as well as scheme development and delivery. She has been involved with the Emerging Professionals Group since 2024, and received Highly Commended in the ‘Emerging Professional Presentation Competition’ in the same year. She joined the CIHT South West committee in 2025, taking on the role of Secretary and also acts as Recruitment Officer on the EPG committee.

Lottie Davies – CIHT South West EPG Recruitment Officer

Lottie is a graduate Transport Planner at Stantec, based in Taunton. Having joined the industry in September 2024, Lottie has worked on a number of active travel and solar farm schemes, as well as having worked on water projects throughout their consultation periods. Having won the Emerging Professional Presentation Competition in 2025, Lottie has taken her proposal of accessible wayfinding tools and has been developing prototypes to make her idea a reality. Lottie looks forward to her outreach role within the EPG committee and hopes to draw in both degree level, and professional members.

Tom Lewis - CIHT South West EPG Events Officer

Tom is a Graduate Transport Planner at Arup, with whom he has been with since the beginning of 2024. Tom has worked on a range of projects spanning regeneration masterplans, active travel corridors, and liveable neighbourhood schemes. Tom's role within the CIHT Southwest EPG, which he assumed in July 2024, is to organise and coordinate educational events for emerging professionals across the region to attend. 

Greg Neil - CIHT South West EPG Events Officer

Greg joined Devon County Council as a graduate in September 2022 after completing a BSc in Geography and Planning at Cardiff University. He has since progressed to Assistant Transportation Planning Officer, being involved in strategy development including LCWIPs and Devon’s EV Charging Strategy. As well as delivering infrastructure for a variety of modes including active travel, highways and public transport. Alongside his job, Greg has recently completed an MSc in Transport Planning and Engineering at Southampton University, having graduated in Winter 2024.

Chris Huxtable – CIHT South West EPG Events Officer 

Chris is an assistant Transport Modeller based in WSP's Exeter office. He has worked on strategic and microsimuation models at local and national scales since 2022. Chris is currently completing an MSc in Transportation Planning and Engineering at the University of Southampton.