[LINK] Autonomous vehicle trials to ramp up as national guidelines published

[David Boxall]

<http://reneweconomy.com.au/autonomous-vehicle-trials-to-ramp-up-as-national-guidelines-published-89451/>
> By Sophie Vorrath on 24 May 2017
>
> A set of national guidelines to support trials of automated vehicles 
> on Australian roads has been published, in a first regulatory step 
> towards the commercial deployment of “driverless” cars, and an era of 
> new mobility.
>
> The guidelines – a joint publication of the National Transport 
> Commission (NTC) and Austroads – support state and territory road 
> agencies in providing exemptions or permits for trials, and give 
> greater certainty to industry on conditions for trials.
>
> Released on Wednesday, they are the first stage of a reform roadmap, 
> agreed to by ministers in November 2016, which aims to develop an 
> end-to-end regulatory system for eventual commercial deployment of 
> automated vehicles.
>
> So far in Australia, the South Australian government has been the most 
> pro-active state in supporting autonomous vehicle R&D, last year 
> becoming the first state to legalise controlled testing of driverless 
> cars on public roads.
>
> In October 2016, it launched a $10 million grant funding round aimed 
> at accelerating the development and rollout of autonomous and 
> connected vehicles.
>
> And in January this year, UK-based autonomous transport developer RDM 
> Group revealed plans to establish its Asia-Pacific headquarters in 
> Adelaide, citing “massive demand” for creating autonomous mobility 
> solutions in Australia.
>
> But Australia remains behind the global pace on the technology, with 
> some 14 trials underway in California alone in the US by mid-way 
> through last year.
>
> A recent report has predicted that by 2030, within 10 years of 
> regulatory approval of autonomous electric vehicles (A-EVs), 95 per 
> cent of all US passenger miles traveled would be be served by 
> on-demand, autonomous, electric vehicles that will be owned by fleets 
> rather than individuals.
>
> NTC chief, Paul Retter, said the new Australian guidelines were 
> designed to be flexible and easy for industry to use, to support 
> trials across the nation.
>
> “We have worked closely with vehicle manufacturers, technology 
> developers and federal, state and territory governments to ensure our 
> approach to trials is nationally-consistent and reflects best 
> practice,” Retter said.
> “With a range of different environmental conditions, a receptive 
> population and now guidelines for the safe conduct of trials, 
> Australia has the potential to become a global testing and innovation 
> hub for automated vehicles.”
>
> The two groups said that industry would have “enormous flexibility” in 
> the type of trials that could be run, as long as they satisfied key 
> requirements, including safety plans and insurance.
>
> Trialling organisations would also need to provide data from trials to 
> road transport agencies, including details of any crashes.
>
> “This approach allows industry to innovate – they just need to 
> demonstrate that they are managing the risks, including any risk to 
> other road users,” Retter said.
>
> State and territory governments are also reviewing their exemption 
> powers to ensure that they have appropriate powers to support trials.
>
> “We’re looking forward to the Australian public getting a first-hand 
> view of the benefits of these new and emerging technologies,” said 
> Nick Koukoulas, CEO of Austroads.
>
> The guidelines are available for download on the NTC and Austroads 
> websites.

-- 
David Boxall                    |  When a distinguished but elderly
                                 |  scientist states that something is
http://david.boxall.id.au       |  possible, he is almost certainly
                                 |  right. When he states that
                                 |  something is impossible, he is
                                 |  very probably wrong.
                                                   --Arthur C. Clarke