On the back of hosting the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress late last year and with transport equipment being Victoria’s second largest manufacturing industry contributing $3.8B to the local economy, we’re at the tipping point for redefining mobility for future generations and Victoria wants in, aiming to make the home of the world’s most liveable city, more liveable.

We explored:

• The transport technologies emerging in Victoria
• What makes Victoria an ideal testing ground?
• Community & end user benefits – including congestion and safety
• Challenges faced by the sector – including regulatory and safety

PANELLISTS

Susan Harris – CEO, ITS Australia
Zac McClelland – Cofounder & Project Leader, VicHyper
Dr Anna Newberry – Driver Assistance Technologies, Ford Australia
Michael Caltabiano – CEO, ARRB

THE TAKEOUTS

1. Infrastructure adaptability and policy adaptability are two biggest challenges for ITS.
2. We need to push for better data networks and not just within our capital cities in order to roll out a range of ITS technologies for Australia.
3. Better outcomes can be obtained in the short term without changing infrastructure, simply through improved connectivity and application of data.
4. The Victorian Government is actively looking to understand how people in inner, middle and outer Melbourne make decisions about accessing our transport system, including the human factors driving those decisions such as access, time, quality and family.
5. The Federal Government has committed as part of updated National Policy Framework, to put together roadmap of infrastructure for connected vehicle technology within next 12 months.
6. In Australia $20b is spent in constructing roads every year and the national road network is valued at $250b yet we only invest $63m in research. The investment in research needs to be at least $263m, otherwise next generation technologies will be left sitting at the station.
7. Insurers want IP on driverless technology and access to demonstration opportunities to resolve the question of liability. Who is driving, what do I insure, who do I insure?
8. A competitive advantage we have over Europe and USA is reduced complexities in getting multiple jurisdictions to agree on an outcome.
9. Professor Hugh Bradlow, Telstra’s Chief Scientist says in 2030 he sees a driverless future.
10. We need to envisage an adapted, connected future, not focus solely on roads. What connectivity does the community want – not what access to the road network do they want.