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Connected and Automated Vehicles

Cover of Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia
Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia
  • Publication no: AP-C101-17
  • ISBN: 978-0-6480156-2-8
  • Published: 24 May 2017
  • Superseded

These guidelines provide a flexible framework to encourage innovation and ensure safety when testing automated vehicle technology on Australian public roads.

The guidelines are designed to support different technologies and applications as they emerge. Rather than embed trial requirements in legislation, the guidelines provide a performance-based framework that supports innovation and gives certainty to governments and industry alike.

National guidelines adopted and applied by all states and territories aim to ensure that trialling organisations have similar trial conditions, regardless of which state or territory the trial is conducted in. This supports cross-border or national trials. The national guidelines also aim to allow information sharing, where appropriate, about trial and research outcomes.

The national guidelines will endeavour to facilitate collaborative research, support Australian competitiveness and reduce administrative costs. They were jointly produced by the National Transport Commission and Austroads.

  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1. Guidelines
    • 1.2. Applicability of criteria in the guidelines
    • 1.3. Purpose of the guidelines
    • 1.4. Vehicle and driver regulation in Australia
  • 1.5 Relevant terminology for these guidelines
  • 2. Application of the guidelines
    • 2.1. When the national guielines apply
    • 2.2. Trials that require an exemption or permit
    • 2.3. Trials that do not require an exemption or permit
    • 2.4. Addressing criteria set out in these guidelines
  • 3. Management of trials
    • 3.1. Key management criteria
  • 4. Insurance
    • 4.1. Appropriate insurance
  • 5. Safety management plan
    • 5.1. Safety management plan
    • 5.2. Key safety criteria
  • 6. Data and information
    • 6.1. Provision of data/information for serious incidents
    • 6.2. Provision of data/information for other incidents
    • 6.3. End-of-trial report to the relevant road transport agency
    • 6.4. Commercially sensitive
  • 7. Implementation
    • 7.1. Cross-border trials
    • 7.2. Existing trials
    • 7.3. How trials transition into deployment
    • 7.4. Trials or deployment
    • 7.5. Commercial trials
    • 7.6. Vehicle limit for trials
    • 7.7. Time limits for trials
  • 8. Contacts
  • Glossary
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