SA will be testing ground for country’s first driverless cars

South Australia will be the testing ground for the country’s first driverless cars.

Through its Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative, ARRB announced this week that it will be supporting Australia’s first driverless vehicle demonstration trials in November this year.

ARRB is supporting governments in bringing together leading local and international experts from academia, including its technology partners Telstra and Bosch and automotive partner Volvo, to run the trials.

The South Australian Government will support and host the first Australian trials, which will coincide with a Driverless Vehicle Conference in the state from 5 to 6 November.

Through the trials, the partner organisations will seek to understand what is required to make driverless technology appropriate for Australian roads and safe for road users.

ARRB Group Managing Director Gerard Waldron said automated vehicles are far from science fiction, but rather a short-term reality that Australia needs to be prepared for.

“The advent of driverless cars is an opportunity to foster technological innovation and revive Australia’s manufacturing industry – the South Australian Government has been quick to recognise this,” said Mr. Waldron.

South Australian Premier, Hon Jay Weatherill, said that the trial presents a fantastic opportunity for the region to take a lead nationally and internationally in the developments of the new technology, and to open up new opportunities for the nation’s economy.

ARRB Group’s national research initiative puts Australia on the map along with the UK, the US and Sweden as international leaders in automated vehicle research.

“ARRB will establish how driverless technology needs to be manufactured and introduced for uniquely Australian driving behaviour, our climate and road conditions, including what this means for Australia’s national road infrastructure, markings, surfaces and roadside signage,” said Mr. Waldron.

The trials in South Australia this November will be the first of many trials nationally, with discussions underway in a number of jurisdictions. ARRB Group is calling for additional states, territories and partners to support the initiative.

“Driverless cars have a range of benefits that could significantly improve road safety and the quality of life of everyday Australians, add to the nation’s economic competitiveness and help relieve rapidly growing congestion that is crippling our infrastructure and creating productivity deficits in our capital cities,” said Mr. Waldron.

List of partners supporting ARRB’s Driverless Vehicles Initiative:

Government of South Australia

Volvo

Bosch

Telstra

RAA

Adelaide Airport Limited

Flinders University

Carnegie Mellon University

Cohda Wireless