NTC seeks feedback on safe operation of automated vehicles while on road

The National Transport Commission (NTC) today released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) seeking feedback on the role and regulation of different parties in the safe operation of automated vehicles on Australian roads.

The RIS considers the role of manufacturers, repairers, registered owners and others, in supporting the safety of automated vehicles on Australian roads. It also considers the legal arrangements needed to support their safe operation.
NTC Chief Executive Officer Gillian Miles said the NTC wants to hear from interested parties, particularly those in manufacturing, repairs and road safety groups.
‘It is important to be proactive in developing nationally-consistent laws and regulations for the safe commercial deployment of automated vehicles into Australia’
‘We are considering the range of people who have a role in safety to ensure that automated vehicles are sufficiently regulated to be safe on our roads’, Dr Miles said.
This reform follows earlier NTC work on regulation for automated vehicles entering the Australian market. In November 2018 Australia’s transport ministers agreed that anyone seeking to bring these vehicles to market must self-certify against safety criteria. Ministers also agreed that Australia would develop a new purpose-built national law to regulate the on-road operation of automated vehicles. This consultation is the first step in delivering this.
The NTC is seeking feedback on its consultation regulation impact statement by 26 August 2019.
The NTC will analyse feedback and formulate recommendations to present to ministers in May 2020.
/Public Release.