Victoria to trial autonomous vehicles in attempt to reduce risk on rural roads

Acting Premier, Jacinta Allan, has announced that Bosch has been awarded $2.3 million from the Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Trial Grants Program, and granted the state’s first ADS permit for on-road testing of highly automated driving systems.

In 2018, Victoria finalised regulations to support the ADS permit scheme, which authorises the use of automated vehicles for testing and development on roads.

The aim of the trial is to use the state-of-the-art technology to improve safety on rural Victorian roads – where drivers are five times as likely to be killed in a crash than in metropolitan areas.

The testing will be conducted on roads that expose the automated vehicle to a range of different conditions including traffic, weather and infrastructure.

Jacinta Allan said: “Victoria is leading the nation in the future of on-road technology and this trial is an exciting step towards driverless vehicles hitting the road. The tragic fact is that you’re five times as likely to be killed on a rural road than in the city. That’s why we’re rolling out a record roads investment in rural Victoria – and this is another way we can improve safety and save lives.”

The $9 million Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program is funded through the Andrews Labor Government’s $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan.

The trials will support Victoria’s readiness for CAV technologies and the knowledge gained will provide a better understanding of the infrastructure required to get these vehicles on the road, maximising their safety benefits.

Member for Clarinda, Meng Heang Tak, said: “This is not only great news for road safety – but our local community also benefits with high skilled jobs and more investment.”