Australia’s largest on-road trial of cooperative vehicles was successfully wrapped up this month, paving the way for new technologies on Queensland roads.

The Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot tested technology that alerted drivers to upcoming hazards including red lights, pedestrians, and bike riders. The aim of the project was to increase road awareness and reduce the risk of road deaths.

To do this, 500 private and fleet vehicles were retrofitted with Cooperative Intelligence Transport Systems (C-ITS). This technology enabled the vehicles to “talk” to each other, infrastructure, and cloud systems.

As part of the project, MTA Queensland assisted with the initial installation of monitoring equipment. After the initial fit-out of four vehicles, the Department of Transport and Main Roads expanded the technology to the remaining vehicles and deployed them in Ipswich. This included the vehicles of two MTA Queensland trainers.

Now, the nine-month testing period has come to a finish, with the evaluation report expected to become available in early 2022.

Assistant Regional Roads Minister Bruce Sanders said the connected vehicle technology had a key role to play in the future of road safety and would future proof the transport network in preparation for automated vehicles. The department is now working to extend the scope of its C-ITS services along the Bruce Highway, from the Sunshine Coast to Cairns.

“This project gives regional road users the chance to explore the service along the highway before it appears commercially available in vehicles, which we are expecting on Australian roads in 2024-25 following the inclusion of C-ITS in the new vehicle, five-star safety rating,” Mr Saunders said.

“We have lost 195 lives on our roads so far this year, which is 21 more than the same period last year… If we save just one life with connected vehicles, it will be worth it.”

The Ipswich Pilot forms just one part of the Queensland Government’s Cooperative and Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI).

The next phase called the Cooperative and Highly Automated Driving (CHAD) pilot will see a small number of cooperative and automated vehicles tested on public and private roads using trained and public participants.

For further information about the Initiative, click HERE.

Source: Department of Transport and Main Roads | Connected vehicle pilot success for Queensland

17 September 2021