Road Safety
- Publication no: AP-G112-26
- ISBN: 978-1-923617-32-2
- Published: 19 February 2026
- PDF (free) Download
This guideline provides information and practical directions to help road transport stakeholders incorporate Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) knowledge, principles and methods throughout the road transport system lifecycle.
HFE is the discipline that focuses on understanding and optimising interactions between humans and system components to enhance performance, safety, health and wellbeing. Human Factors Integration (HFI) is the process by which HFE knowledge, principles and methods are utilised throughout the system lifecycle to support the design of safe, usable and effective components.
This document presents the Human Factors Integration in Road Transport (HFI-RT) guideline. The guideline was developed through a review of existing HFI and HFE guidance, as well as consultation with stakeholders, including an online workshop to support the development of a Work Domain Analysis (WDA) model for the proposed approach.
The HFI-RT guideline supports organisations involved in road transport systems – including those responsible for vehicles and in-vehicle technologies, traffic control devices, signage, road and roadside design, advertising, training and education programs, policies and procedures – to systematically apply HFE throughout the lifecycle of road transport system components, from initial needs analysis, design and development to operational use, ongoing evaluation and disposal. The aim is to optimise road user behaviour and enhance road safety through a consistent approach.
National Driver Distraction Roadmap
Austroads has published the following guidelines to help operationalise early actions, convene stakeholders and commission targeted guidance aligned to the National Driver Distraction Roadmap.
- Driver Distraction Roadmap Implementation Guide (Austroads 2024) — incorporates an implementation framework, a governance framework, and key elements of a forward work program.
- Guideline for Driver Distraction Data Collection (Austroads 2026) — establishes a national definition of driver distraction harmonises crash and infringement data collection so jurisdictions can more reliably identify and code distraction.
- Guideline for Human Factors Integration in Road Transport (this Guideline) — helps road transport stakeholders embed Human Factors Integration (HFI) into transport system design and operation.
- Guideline for Incorporating Human Factors in Human Machine Interface (Austroads 2026)
— addresses in‑vehicle interface design so that essential functions can be operated safely and intuitively, with minimal visual and cognitive demand.
The guidance, tools and priorities developed under the Roadmap provide a foundation for others to adopt, extend and embed within their own policies, standards and operational practice.
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- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Purpose and scope
- 1.2 Background
- 1.2.1 Human Factors and Ergonomics
- 1.2.2 Human Factors Integration
- 1.3 How to use this guideline
- 1.4 Key terms and definitions
- 2. The Road Transport System Lifecycle
- 2.1 Road transport system lifecycle
- 2.2 Core Human Factors and Ergonomics values
- 2.3 Applying Human Factors and Ergonomics methods across the road transport system lifecycle
- 3. Phase 1: Planning and Needs Assessment
- 3.1 Aims
- 3.2 Human Factors concepts and principles
- 3.3 Key questions to address
- 3.3.1 Needs assessment
- 3.3.2 Options analysis
- 3.3.3 Development of the HFIP
- 3.3.4 Methods to support needs assessment
- 3.4 Human Factors methods and processes
- 3.4.1 Methods to support options analysis
- 3.4.2 Methods to support development of the HFIP
- 3.5 Relevant standards and guidelines
- 4. Phase 2: Requirements Analysis and Risk Assessment
- 4.1 Aims
- 4.2 Human Factors concepts and principles
- 4.2.1 Requirements analysis
- 4.2.2 Risk assessment
- 4.3 Key questions to address
- 4.3.1 Requirements analysis
- 4.3.2 Risk assessment
- 4.4 Human Factors methods and processes
- 4.4.1 Methods to support requirements analysis
- 4.4.2 Methods to support risk assessment
- 4.5 Relevant standards and guidelines
- 5. Phase 3: Design, Testing and Evaluation
- 5.1 Aims
- 5.1.1 Design
- 5.1.2 Testing and evaluation
- 5.2 Human Factors concepts and principles
- 5.2.1 Design
- 5.2.2 Testing and evaluation
- 5.3 Key questions to address
- 5.4 Human Factors methods and processes
- 5.4.1 Design
- 5.4.2 Testing and evaluation
- 5.5 Relevant standards and guidelines
- 5.1 Aims
- 6. Phase 4: Development/Acquisition
- 6.1 Aims
- 6.2 Human Factors concepts and principles
- 6.3 Key questions to address
- 6.4 Human Factors methods and processes
- 6.5 Relevant standards and guidelines
- 7. Phase 5: Operations, Maintenance and Disposal
- 7.1 Aims
- 7.2 Human Factors concepts and principles
- 7.3 Key questions to address
- 7.4 Human Factors methods and processes
- 7.5 Relevant standards and guidelines
- 8. Driver Distraction Case Studies
- 8.1 Implementation of Variable Message Signs during freeway upgrade
- 8.1.1 Background
- 8.1.2 Human Factors Integration for VMS
- 8.1.3 Summary
- 8.2 Implementation of a driver behaviour monitoring system
- 8.2.1 Background
- 8.2.2 HFI for driver behaviour monitoring systems
- 8.2.3 Summary
- 8.1 Implementation of Variable Message Signs during freeway upgrade
- 9. Conclusions
- References
- Appendix A Referenced Figures and Tables
Austroads’ literature review of hazard perception tests identifies what makes these tests effective, with a particular focus on novice drivers. It shows that the ability to anticipate and respond to hazards is a critical skill linked to safer driving and reduced crash risk.