Tuesday, 6 October 2015
Austroads has commissioned a pivotal study to assess key issues road operators will face with the introduction of automated vehicles (AV) on Australian roads.
The project will draw on international and local expertise according to Austroads Program Director Cooperative and Automated Systems, Stuart Ballingall:
‘This project is intended to review both international and local literature and initiatives, and seek the input of key stakeholders regarding the emerging requirements for AVs to operate on public and private road networks in urban and rural environments.The key deliverable from this project will be guidance to road agencies, private road operators and other key stakeholders on what changes may be required to the way road networks are managed, so there is a consistent approach towards supporting and optimising the outcomes from the introduction and use of automated vehicles.’
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has been awarded the contract for the project.
‘It’s not a matter of if but when automated vehicles will operate on our roads. Estimates vary between five and twenty years for the introduction of AV on our roads,’ says WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Section Executive Scot Coleman.‘Governments, road agencies and private road operators throughout the world will need to be ready to deal with the significant operational, social and economic ramifications of AV.’
The project will involve a literature study, national and international stakeholder discussions and development of a guidance document to better understand key issues and how best to guide the introduction of AV.
This week Mr Ballingall and Scott Benjamin, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Principal ITS Engineer will join Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss to meet with colleagues and key stakeholders from around the globe to gain insights on industry best practice for the introduction of AV.
Austroads is also undertaking separate projects to investigate the potential registration and licensing issues with the introduction of AV and the safety benefits of Cooperative ITS and AV.