Victorian Minister for Roads Jaala Pulford has announced that on-road testing will get underway in an Australian-first trial of connected vehicle technology.
The trial uses advanced technology to connect vehicles directly as well as optimised 4G mobile networks to connect vehicles to one another and to traffic management centres with cloud servers using ‘Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)’ technology.
Cellular V2X is a new technology with a customised version of 4G for connected vehicles rather than mobile phones.
The project is researching cars fitted with this technology under controlled conditions and is testing several road safety features including Red-light Violator Warnings and Pedestrian Alert Right-Turn Assist.
Trials started in late 2018 to test concept technology on controlled tracks, and on-road testing will soon begin on metropolitan and regional roads to help shape how this technology could be fitted to vehicles in the future.
The project is a partnership led by Telstra and Lexus Australia and is funded by a $3.5 million grant from the government’s Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program.
The grant program is managed by VicRoads and funded by the TAC through the Towards Zero Action Plan, which supports a range of initiatives to benefit road safety on roads across Victoria.
VicRoads chief executive Robyn Seymour said: “Connected and automated vehicles will play a huge part in reducing lives lost and serious injuries on our roads – that’s why we’re getting ready to implement this technology to start making a big impact on our roads.”