Driverless cars to be trialled on Melbourne roads this year

EXCLUSIVE: DRIVERLESS cars are to hit Melbourne roads for the first trial on the Monash-CityLink- Tullamarine paving the way for driverless vehicles.

DRIVERLESS cars are rolling out onto Victorian roads with a new trial on the Monash-­CityLink-Tullamarine corridor to pave the way for the ­technology.

VicRoads, RACV and Trans­urban will partner with BMW, Mercedes, Tesla and Volvo to look at how the vehicles will ­interact with roads, regulations and the community.

This first phase of the program will examine how they respond to lanes, features like lane control and traffic sign recognition, as well as ­tunnels and road works.

However, safety drivers will travel in the car as a back-up.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said it was an exciting step.

“Victoria is at the forefront of automated vehicle technology — we’re investing in this trial to explore ways that this technology can be used to reduce crashes and keep people safe on our roads.”

Safety drivers will travel in the car as a back-up.

The first phase of the program will examine how the driverless cars respond to lanes, features like lane control and traffic sign recognition, as well as ­tunnels and road works.

VicRoads CEO John Merritt said: “Technology is moving at a rapid pace, and we want to ensure our roads and the community are ready for these changes.”

It is hoped the cars will reduce road trauma, with human error contributing to more than 90 per cent of crashes.

All vehicles involved in the trial comply with existing Australian Design Rules and road safety regulations.

The trial will run until the end of the year.

RACV public policy general manager Brian Negus welcomed the trial.

“We want to get a clear understanding for our members of the potential safety improvements offered by automated vehicles; how the technology works and what the implications are for the community,” he said.

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