Government releases national road transport tech strategy

The Australian Government recently released the National Road Transport Technology Strategy, setting out a nationally consistent approach to technology deployment and adoption in the road transport sector.

With the automotive industry rapidly changing with greater vehicle connectivity and automated driving technologies, the government’s aims with this strategy is to support the responsible adoption of these road transport technologies. The new technologies can help improve road safety and reduce fuel and energy use, but with this comes greater safety, privacy and cybersecurity risks.

The National Road Transport Technology Strategy outlines the policy, regulatory and investment roles of governments in supporting new road transport technologies, and provides a set of nine principles to guide nationally consistent decision-making across all jurisdictions.

The government says that through the strategy and action plan, the federal, state and territory governments are working together to ensure the community gets the best out of these technologies and the risks are managed.

Also announced was the 2024–27 National Connected and Automated Vehicle Action Plan, which sets out the national priority actions the federal, state and territory governments will work on through to 2027. This includes continuing work to develop a national regulatory framework for the safe operation of automated vehicles.

The strategy also supports the rollout of connected road infrastructure that can ‘talk’ to vehicles and other road users by developing a national Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) roadmap.

This strategy was endorsed through the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ITMM). ITMM is ensuring Australia is ready to maximise the benefits these technologies have to offer.

“This action plan will help identify any gaps in federal, state and territory government laws to ensure that these systems are helping keep Australians safe on our roads,” said Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King. “This builds on existing work of the Albanese government to ensure these new technologies are fit for purpose, including the Australian Cyber Security Strategy that outlines possible risks of emerging tech.

“We know as technology in vehicles progresses, it is important we keep relevant frameworks up to date.”

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