RACV urges action to support the safe rollout of automated vehicles

RACV has today released its first policy positions on automated vehicles, calling on the Federal Government to progress national safety laws and the Victorian Government to update the Road Rules and registration system so that the technology can be safely deployed on Australian roads.

With self-driving capability now available in the car market, and self-driving robotaxi services expected to follow, RACV believes there is an opportunity for Australia’s regulatory framework to better keep pace with the technology so that motorists have clear guidance on how automated vehicles can be safely used.

RACV Head of Policy James Williams said Australia was at an important juncture, with a significant road safety opportunity on the table.

“Human error is a factor in around 90 per cent of all crashes, so if we can get the settings right, automated vehicles have the potential to deliver one of the most meaningful reductions in road trauma we’ve seen in a generation,” Mr Williams said.

“If we move too slowly, however, there is a risk the technology will be deployed without the safeguards motorists deserve. Industry is already moving faster than government.”

RACV’s analysis suggests that Australian law continues to assume a human is performing the dynamic driving task at all times. In practice, there are already vehicles on our roads capable of steering, braking, accelerating and changing lanes without human intervention.

While the Federal Government has already accepted it has a role accrediting operators to ensure the safe operation of automated vehicles – in a similar way to humans needing a  licence to drive – the government is moving too slowly.

“The role of the driver is shifting from performing the driving task to supervising an automated driving system, and it is important that our laws reflect that so that motorists understand what’s expected of them and regulators have clarity on what they’re enforcing,” Mr Williams said.

RACV is encouraging the Federal Government to:

• Progress the introduction of Automated Vehicle Safety Laws that regulate the Automated Driving System Entity (ADSE), including over-the-air software updates and automated technologies that are not classified by manufacturers as highly automated.
• Establish the national in-service safety regulator to help assure the safety of automated vehicles across their full life cycle.
• Require manufacturers to provide consumer education and awareness as part of their safety accreditation.

RACV is also calling on the Victorian Government to:

• Update the Road Rules and vehicle registration.
• As a priority, update the definition of “proper control” to clarify when a driver maintains control through supervision and monitoring rather than physical contact with the steering wheel. RACV’s view is that a hand on the wheel should continue to be required for vehicles up to and including Level 3 automation.
• Update the Driver Licence Test and develop public education campaigns to help motorists understand the levels of automation, the responsibilities of a fallback-ready driver, and the risks of distraction and fatigue when supervising an automated vehicle.

Mr Williams said that preparing motorists was just as important as updating the regulatory settings.

“Supervising an automated vehicle is a different skill to driving one. It requires sustained attention with relatively little to do, which can be challenging for any driver. Motorists would benefit from clear information, clear guidance and appropriate training before taking the wheel of a vehicle that can drive itself,” he said.

RACV supports the deployment of automated vehicle technologies that can demonstrably improve road safety, and welcomes the introduction of self-driving robotaxi services in Australia under trial conditions.

Mr Williams said RACV would continue to work closely with counterpart clubs around the country, the Australian Automobile Association and governments at every level to encourage a nationally consistent approach.

“This is ultimately a national challenge, and it would benefit from a national response. Motorists shouldn’t face one set of rules in Victoria and another over the New South Wales border. Australians would be well served by a clear, consistent and safety-led framework, and the time to start that work is now,” Mr Williams said.