The Victorian Government along with VicRoads, RACV and Transurban, are launching a trial of automated vehicles on the Monash-CityLink-Tullamarine corridor to help the state prepare for the future of driverless vehicles.
The study will look at how to prepare road infrastructure, regulations and the community for the integration of this new technology into the transport system.
The first phase of the program will examine how features like lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition, respond to the road environment including tunnels, roadworks, congestion, electronic speed signs and line markings.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said, “Victoria is at the forefront of automated vehicle technology – we’re investing in this trial to explore ways that this technology can be used to reduce crashes and keep people safe on our roads.”
The vehicles involved in the trial comply with existing Australian Design Rules and road safety regulations, and will have professional drivers who will be holding the steering wheel at all times when conducting trials in live traffic.
“We want to get a clear understanding for our members of the potential safety improvements offered by automated vehicles; how the technology works and what the implications are for the community,” RACV General Manager Public Policy, Brian Negus, said.
Automated vehicles have enormous potential to make journeys safer and more efficient, and to help the community travel with more ease, including people with limited mobility.
Automated vehicles are an important step to reducing road trauma, with human error contributing to more than 90 per cent of crashes.
Phase one of the trial will be complete late 2017. The complete trial program will take two years and consists of three phases.
