Australia a potential test-bed for automated vehicles
New National Transport Commission discussion paper to lay down guidelines for automated vehicle trials in AustraliaA recently-released discussion paper from the National Transport Commission (NTC) could lead to Australia’s establishment as an international test-bed for trialling automated vehicles.
The National guidelines for automated vehicle trials discussion paper aims to establish a single, national set of guidelines for autonomous vehicle trials and follows an endorsement by ministers in an NTC regulatory reforms for automated road vehicles policy paper that was released early in November.
It's the same white paper that suggests autonomous cars will remove the need for highway police patrols and speed cameras.
The policy paper followed a year’s research into the regulatory reforms that will be needed in preparation for the anticipated roll-out of partly and fully-automated vehicles from 2020.
Geoff Allan, acting chief executive at the NTC, said on-road trials were an important step in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of automated systems in Australia, as was national consistency in the development of guidelines," he said.
“Developing a single and nationally-agreed set of guidelines would help promote Australia as a test bed for automated vehicles by providing consistent conditions for trials, while at the same time encouraging innovation.
“By harmonising trial conditions and expectations across jurisdictions, governments can work with industry to further explore the potential economic, environmental and safety benefits of this technology.
“The guidelines will also help support cross-border trials,” said Allan.
The NTC is calling for input from interested parties in the drawing up of the guidelines which will need to be submitted by 4:00pm on Monday, January 16 via the NTC website.
The guideline recommendations will be presented to transport ministers at the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting that is scheduled for May 2017.
Australia saw its first autonomous car trials in Adelaide in November 2015 as part of the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative in which car-maker Volvo supplied an XC90 SUV showcasing various elements of driver-assist technology.
More information on the national automated vehicle trials discussion paper is available here.
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