Canberra drivers have been invited to take part in a trial of driverless cars at the Sutton Driver Training Track.
Volunteers will be tested on how quickly a driver can be ready to resume control of an automated vehicle.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Rachel Stephen-Smith announced the trial, saying it would be unusual in that it focused on the people inside the car, not the cars and their outward-facing sensors.
“The ACT Government has formed an industry partnership with local company Seeing Machines, a world leader in decoding the interaction between people and machines, which is a critical piece of the puzzle as automated vehicles are further developed,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“There is huge potential for the community to benefit from automated vehicles, by improving road safety, reducing traffic congestion and opening up personal transport to people who aren’t currently able to drive.”
She said despite the promise of this technology, there was still a long way to go before vehicles were completely automated.
Ms Stephen-Smith said Canberra, however, was getting on the front foot, by testing the technology, taking a different view of what safety looked like, and learning and applying the experiences.
Chair of Seeing Machines, Ken Kroeger said the data collected in the trials would be critical to advancing the safety of communities around the world.
“The continued support of the ACT Government helps Seeing Machines sustain its leadership position as we develop our core technology to meet the needs of our partners, customers and stakeholders,” Mr Kroeger said.
Drivers with a valid licence and a good driving record with an interest in participating in the trial can email [email protected].
