WSP/
Parsons Brinckerhoff has been awarded a pivotal consulting study for the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies,
Austroads,
to identify and assess key issues road operators will face with the
introduction of automated vehicles (AV) to Australia’s roads.
The
companies believe that AVs will operate on the country’s roads in the
next five to twenty years. WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff section executive,
Scot Coleman, said, “It’s not a matter of if, but when, we will see the
introduction of highly automated vehicles on Australian roads.”
He
went on to say that governments, road agencies and private road
operators throughout the world will need to be ready to deal with the
significant operational, social and economic ramifications of automated
vehicles.
According to Austroads’ program director for
Cooperative and Automated Systems, Stuart Ballingall, the project will
draw on international and local expertise. He said the study intends to
review both international and local literature and initiatives and seek
the input of local and international stakeholders regarding the emerging
requirements for AVs to operate on public and private road networks, in
urban and rural environments.
“The outcomes from this project
will provide guidance to road agencies, private road operators and other
stakeholders on what changes may be required to the way our road
networks are managed,” he said. “We’re aiming for a best-practice,
consistent approach that supports and optimises the outcomes from the
introduction and use of AVs.”