EastLink is working in partnership with VicRoads, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), La Trobe University and RACV to conduct the first major survey of Victorian motorists’ attitudes to self-driving vehicles.
Self-driving vehicle technologies, such as highway autopilot, are increasingly offered by
the latest production vehicles in Australia. Further advances will continue to occur, with hands-off-the-wheel driving on EastLink and other suitable freeways expected within the next few years (subject to legislative changes).
EastLink is already involved in trials of the latest vehicles to identify opportunities to improve the compatibility between the latest self-driving vehicle technologies and freeway infrastructure.
To complement these technical trials, EastLink with support from ARRB has launched the Annual Victorian Self-Driving Vehicle Survey.
This is the first major survey of Victorian motorists’ perceptions of, and attitudes to, self-driving vehicles. Thousands of responses are expected for the survey.
EastLink spokesperson Doug Spencer-Roy, said the Annual Victorian Self-Driving Vehicle Survey will help Victorian motorists by ensuring that road operators and vehicle manufacturers better understand motorists’ needs in relation to self-driving vehicles.
“The survey will identify aspects of self-driving vehicles for which Victorian motorists are seeking further information. This will help road operators and vehicle manufacturers provide the right information to motorists as new self-driving vehicle technologies become increasingly available,” Mr Spender-Roy said.
“Through this year’s trials of self-driving vehicle technologies on EastLink and the launch of the Annual Victorian Self-Driving Vehicle Survey, EastLink is getting on with the job of preparing for hands-off-the-wheel driving (subject to legislative changes).”
The 2017 Annual Victorian Self-Driving Vehicle Survey will identify a baseline for motorists’ perceptions and attitudes. EastLink will then repeat the survey annually to track changes into the future.
EastLink will provide a summary of survey results to the public. More detailed survey results will be provided to road operators throughout Victoria, and to the vehicle manufacturers which provide vehicles to assist with the EastLink trials.
Victorian motorists are encouraged to complete the survey, irrespective of whether they use EastLink.
The survey can be completed via https://www.eastlink.com.au until 8 October 2017.
