IMPLEMENTATION OF CONNECTED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON ROAD NETWORKS: ALIGNED INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION

Abstract

Strategies for implementing connected autonomous-vehicles, require focusing on respective road-infrastructure impact and, incorporation into future transport-planning. To this end, an analysis was conducted of (semi-structured interviews with 9) experts from road/traffic-engineering and public-works-departments (PWDs), charged to trial local initiatives. Legislation being introduced or amended in North America and Europe towards best-practice applications sought to determine the particular national strategies by those currently implementing the use of AVs. Analysis in Australia determined that there are 716 legislative barriers currently blocking the legal use of AVs. In particular, this study of respective uptake barriers found obstacles of legal significance directly relevant to civil engineering practitioners; namely, Australian Road Rules 126 and 127 which prohibit connected autonomous vehicles from platooning – reducing the spacing between vehicles. Overseas, a recognition of platooning is inherent; the benefits of platooning include fuel savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and labor savings for freight vehicles. This research determined that the isolated-north of Western Australia (WA) is a suitable place to begin innovative legislation reviews towards platooning due to the current prevalence of, and applicability to, heavy vehicles in the local mining industry. This research project developed a guidance tool for practitioners and stakeholders to implement successful platooning. The flowchart guidance tool here provides the first step for Main-Roads-PWD to adopt (the benefits of AV) platooning for connected autonomous vehicles across selected WA road networks and presents guidance for application more widely for general autonomous vehicle uptake.