Connected and Automated Vehicles

These guidelines set out criteria that must be addressed in any application for an automated vehicle trial.

The guidelines aim to provide clear guidance on matters that should be addressed by trialling organisations as part of the trialling process for both light and heavy automated vehicles.

The guidelines provide a flexible mechanism to encourage innovation while maintaining safety. They aim to accommodate a range of different automated vehicle technologies and applications, and the management of trials will allow for these differences. For example, the risks posed by the trial of a single, low-speed, driverless shuttle on a set route will be different from those for a trial of a fleet of heavy vehicles on a motorway.

National guidelines adopted and applied by all states and territories aim to ensure 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.