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Category: Science and Technology / States and Territories / Road Transport

Driverless electric bus to be trialled in WA

Tuesday, 9 Feb 2016 12:19:12 | Andrew O'Connor

The electric shuttle bus can carry 15 passengers at speeds up to 45 kilometres per hour. (Supplied: RAC WA)

A driverless electric bus is set to be trialled in Perth in a test run for the use of autonomous vehicles on West Australian roads.

The staged trial is being conducted and funded by WA's RAC later this year using a French-made electric shuttle bus.

With no driver, it will use three-dimensional sensing technology to carry 15 passengers at speeds up to 45 kilometres per hour.

The RAC said multi-sensor technology allowed the bus to detect and read signs and avoid obstacles.

WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder said while driverless public bus services could be years away, the trial would help test the concept.

"I think this is the first steps for the State Government and for the state of Western Australia to explore conceptually where automated vehicles may go," Mr Nalder said.

"It is a trial, and at the end of the day trials have ups and downs. There will be things that don't work that we'll learn from, but it's all about learning so we're better prepared for the future."

It's too early at this stage so say exactly how it will be rolled out.

Dean Nalder, WA Transport Minister

Preparations will involve the creation of a legal framework for driverless vehicles, including a focus on liability in the event of a crash.

Details are still being negotiated with the State Government and Department of Transport.

The announcement comes after a driverless shuttle bus took to Dutch public roads last month in the first trial of its kind worldwide.

First tests on private roads: RAC

RAC WA chief executive Terry Agnew said the bus would arrive in Perth in April, and initial tests would be conducted on private roads at the RAC's driver centre.

"The timing to actually get it onto public roads will really be [dependent on] satisfying the Government and Department of Transport that the regulations are right, that it's safe enough," Mr Agnew said.

"So I can't give a timing on that simply because that will be their call."

Mr Agnew said the staged trial on private and public roads would help the Government understand the legislative and practical challenges posed by vehicles without drivers.

"Not only are we thinking about regulation and how it might work operationally, but importantly we can start understanding the human factor of how Western Australians will embrace and use this innovative technology," he said.

Mr Nalder believed autonomous vehicles would operate on WA roads in the future, but exactly when and how remained uncertain.

"In the future, it could be that they become private cars that run people to and from work. But it's too early at this stage so say exactly how it will be rolled out," Mr Nalder said.

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