Thursday, 6 August 2020
To support the registration of automated and electric vehicles (AVs and EVs) changes may be required to jurisdictional registration systems. Specifically, additional data may be required that is unique to AVs and EVs.
In July 2020 Austroads completed a project documenting the registration data requirements for AVs and EVs and potential data flows between existing and future data sources and jurisdictional registration systems.
The project focussed on achieving a nationally consist approach to the required changes, and providing certainty to industry and vehicle owners, particularly where borders are crossed during operations or as a result of change of vehicle ownership.
The project considered the data needs for AV and EV registration and potential operational and safety impacts such as impacts on Compulsory Third-Party Insurance arrangements.
Two key questions were addressed:
- What additional data for AVs and EVs is required by registration authorities and service providers?
- What systems might best collect and distribute this data effectively and accurately?
Previous Austroads projects concluded that current registration systems are capable of handling the regulatory challenges presented by AVs and EVs. Nonetheless, some data matters, particularly pertaining to AVs, required further attention.
This project concluded that:
- Most of the registration requirements for AVs and EVs are covered adequately by existing registration data sets.
- While there is a wide range of possible additional AV and EV data, most is not appropriate for collection and storage within jurisdictional registration systems. This includes data which is:
- dynamic and subject to continuous and rapid change (for example, data relating to the point in time control of an AV needed for liability, compliance or offense investigations);
- not clearly definable or extremely complex (for example, the Operational Design Domain of an AV which may vary based on many factors and may change frequently); and
- not accessible to potential users via registration systems (for example, EV safety information to assist first-responders at the scene of a crash).
- A small number of additional data items are required to register AVs and EVs and effectively manage their subsequent road access and use.
- Changes to registration data capture and sharing systems are possible and will provide for efficient and effective AV and EV data capture as part of registration processes.
The project recommended:
- a small additional data set for AVs and EVs and draft data definitions for further development;
- a proposed system-to-system approach to data capture and sharing between third-party data creators, the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information Service (NEVDIS), jurisdiction registration systems and end users; and
- the establishment of a National Working Group, led by NEVDIS, to complete work on the recommendations and systems design as well as to investigate and resolve other AV and EV data issues recorded during this project but deemed out of scope.
These recommendations will be progressed by Austroads’ Registration and Licensing Task Force.