About the Victorian CAV trials
The Victorian trial program is in three phases and investigates how connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) interact with motorway infrastructure.
The first, completed phase looked at how partially automated vehicles react to the motorway environment, including: speed signs, toll points, line markings, motorway artwork and architecture, entry and exit ramps, objects on the road, merging vehicles, different light and weather conditions, peak-hour congestion and road works.
The second and third phases will focus on vehicles with higher levels of connectivity and automation.
Transurban is running these trials in partnership with the Victorian Government, VicRoads and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria.
Partially automated vehicle trials
Our first Victorian CAV trials focused on partially automated vehicles – vehicles with some driver-assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and lane keep assist. These features are generally designed to help drivers with maintaining and adjusting speed or staying within one lane.
Audi, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes, Tesla and Volvo supplied the vehicles used in this trial.
Trial findings
The first trials gave us valuable insights into what’s needed to prepare our roads for an automated vehicle future. The trials also highlighted some of the challenges vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers and regulators face as CAVs and automation technology become more common on our roads.
To see the trial’s findings and recommendations, download the trial report or check out the findings and recommendations fact sheet.
The following videos illustrate some of the findings described in the report. Although, they show scenarios that can arise in some vehicles in certain conditions, they are not necessarily common to all trial vehicles.
Lines: the stronger, the better
Pay attention next exit
Looking for a sign
Urban design vs vehicle science
Blinkered vision: CAVs can’t see everything
At entry ramps, vehicles did not create a gap to allow merging vehicles into traffic.