Driverless Vehicles

Trials of Automotive Technologies

Applications to hold an Automotive Technology trial in South Australia

Trials of advanced automotive and driverless vehicle technology are welcome and encouraged in South Australia. Trials are enabled under the Motor Vehicles Act, as amended by the Motor Vehicles (Trials of Automotive Technologies) Amendment Act 2016.

Companies, universities and other groups considering applying to undertake a trial in South Australia are encouraged to make early contact with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (the Department). The Department aim to work with trial applicants to ensure clear understanding of the trial assessment and approval process, time frames, and to support proposals for the importation of test vehicles or modification of production (ADR compliant) vehicles for testing advanced automotive technologies and driverless vehicle functionality.

Trial applicants planning to import test vehicles also need to be aware of current Commonwealth requirements under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA). For more information click here.

Trial applicants should note that they will NOT be covered by the Compulsory Third Party Insurance Scheme administered by the Compulsory Third Party Regulator for the costs of the death of or bodily injury to third parties in the event of a trial vehicle collision with a third party’s vehicle or person. As such, appropriate public liability insurances must be held by the applicant.

Acknowledging that the protection of road users is paramount, trial applications should provide information responding to Guidelines for Trials of Automated Vehicle, jointly published by the National Transport Commission and Austroads. The latest guideline can be accessed here.

These guidelines provide nationally consistent criteria in the following areas:

Management of trials
Insurance (noting the above statement regarding no coverage under the Compulsory Third Party Insurance scheme in South Australia)
Safety Management Plan
Data and information

To ensure the safety of all road users, any exemptions from road safety related provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) will be comprehensively assessed. Applicants should also note that all trials are subject to state laws relating to driving without due care and dangerous driving.

The Department aims to work in collaboration with trial applicants to support the preparation of trial application documentation.

For a trial to proceed it must receive an Authorisation from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The Department will arrange for the Authorisation to be published on this website along with details of the trial. The Department will also arrange for publication of the Authorisation in the Government Gazette.

Please use the following application form (DOCX, 623 KB) for Autonomous Vehicle Trial Exemption and Authorisation. All trial applications must be made considering and applying the Automated Vehicle Trials Safety Assurance Framework.

Guidance on risks is available from the following risk register template (XLSX, 18 KB) for autonomous vehicles trials.

Applications can be made by email to: DIT.Innovation@sa.gov.au

Trial assessment process

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (the Department) will need to prepare a report and recommendation to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government in order for a trial to be authorised. The Department has established an advisory committee comprised of key Department personnel, along with SAPOL and other members as needed.

It is preferred that anyone interested should first contact the Department to first discuss their proposal. This should ensure you are aware of any issues which you may otherwise not be. This should assist you in completing your application and make it easier to address any issues. Contact us on DIT.Innovation@sa.gov.au

The trial assessment process is intended to be flexible and will include consultation with stakeholders that will have a significant interest in proposed trials, such as local councils.

The trial assessment process is outlined below

Initial discussions with the Department
Application for trial, addressing the criteria in the NTC and Austroads 'Guideline for Trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia'.
Appropriate members of the Department's Advisory Committee will consult with trial applicant(s) to:
- Better understand the trial scope and provide initial observations regarding information required from the applicant
- provide initial feedback on possible conditions of authorisation
- provide initial indication on support for requested exemptions from Acts, laws or standards
- provide further information to all Advisory Committee members

The Department receives a final formal application from the trial applicant, including requested exemptions from Acts, laws or standards
The Advisory Committee will meet to consider final application and determine required scope of assessment. Risk and Insurance will always be included within the scope of assessment. If required, the Advisory Committee will meet for a formal presentation by, and/or joint workshop with, the trial applicant (e.g. safety/risk management).
The Advisory Committee will consider the trial application and supporting materials and prepare its advice and recommendations, including conditions of authorisation and exemptions from Acts, laws and standards.
The Minister considers the trial application and report with recommendations from the Department and makes a determination on authorising the trial.
If the trial is authorised, the Department arranges publication of the trial authorisation and exemptions in the Government Gazette, and publication of authorisation on website.
The Department provides letter to trial applicant advising of the authorisation of the trial and start date one month after website publication.

Notices

Details of approved trials.

Flinders Autonomous Vehicle Trial located at the Tonsley Innovation District to 30 June 2023. Flinders University will trial a Navya shuttle on a fixed route on public roads in the Tonsley Innovation District. Motor Vehicles (Flinders University Autonomous Vehicle Trial) Notice 2022, Government Gazette dated 23 June 2022, p40.

Flinders Autonomous Vehicle Trial located at the Tonsley Innovation District to 30 June 2022. Flinders University will trial a Navya shuttle on a fixed route on public roads in the Tonsley Innovation District. Motor Vehicles (Flinders Autonomous Vehicle Trial) Notice 2021, Government Gazette dated 4 February 2021, p311.

EasyMile Renmark Trial Phase 2 to conduct an on-road autonomous vehicle trial in Renmark on a route servicing the local community and tourism. Motor Vehicles (EasyMile Autonomous Vehicle Trial - Phase 2 at Renmark) Notice 2020, Government Gazette dated 5 November 17 2020, p5014.

EasyMile Renmark Trial Phase 1 to conduct an on-road autonomous vehicle trial in Renmark on a route servicing the local community. Motor Vehicles (EasyMile Autonomous Vehicle Trial - Phase 1 at Renmark) Notice 2020, Government Gazette dated 17 September 2020, p4646.

Cohda Wireless Autonomous Vehicle positioning trial phase within closed locations being Walkerville carpark and Adelaide Show Grounds utilising Cohda’s self-driving autonomous vehicles to test vehicle positioning and V2X technologies. Motor Vehicles (Cohda Wireless Autonomous Vehicle Positioning Trials) Notice 2020, Government Gazette dated 25 June 2020, p3644.

Aurrigo Autonomous Pod Trial located at the Tonsley Innovation District extended to 30 June 2020. The autonomous pod will provide a transport service within the Tonsley Innovation Precinct. Reference: Motor Vehicles (Aurrigo Autonomous Cargo Pod Trial) Notice 2019, Government Gazette dated 4 July 2019, p2601.

EasyMile Renmark Trial Phase 1 to conduct an on-road autonomous vehicle trial in Renmark on a route servicing the local community. Motor Vehicles (EasyMile Autonomous Vehicle Trial - Phase 1 at Renmark) Notice 2019, Government Gazette dated 20 June 2019, p2171.

EasyMile Playford Connect Trial Phase 2 to conduct an on-road autonomous vehicle trial in the City of Playford providing a first mile last mile service from the Munno Para Train Station. Motor Vehicles (EasyMile Autonomous Vehicle Trial - Phase 2 at Munno Para) Notice 2019, Government Gazette dated 23 May 2019, p1312.

Aurrigo Autonomous Pod Trial located at the Elliot Gardens Retirement Village, Port Elliot from 7 March to30 June 2019. The autonomous pod will provide a transport service within the Retirement Village. Motor Vehicles (Aurrigo Autonomous Vehicle - Port Elliot Trial) Notice 2019, Government Gazette dated 7 March 2019, p789.

Local Motors Autonomous Vehicle Glenelg Trial to test interoperability of an autonomous shuttle with a smart bus stop between Mosley Square and Broadway Kiosk. Motor Vehicles (Local Motors Autonomous Vehicle Glenelg Trial) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 1 November 2018, p3915.

Autonomous vehicles demonstration trials for the 3rd International Driverless Vehicles Summit from 31st October to 2nd November 2018. Refer Motor Vehicles (ADVI IDVS3 Summit Trial) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 1 November 2018, p3912.

Local Motors Autonomous Vehicle Tonsley Trial to test interoperability of an autonomous shuttle with a smart bus stop on roads open to the public in the Tonsley Innovation District. Motor Vehicles (Local Motors Autonomous Vehicle Tonsley Trial) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 4 October 2018, p3685.

EasyMile Playford Connect Trial Phase 1 to conduct an on-road autonomous vehicle trial in the City of Playford between the old GM carpark and the Lyell McEwin hospital. Motor Vehicles (EasyMile Playford Connect Trial – Phase 1) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 13 September 2018, p3472.

Cohda Wireless Autonomous Vehicle positioning trial phase within closed locations being Walkerville carpark and Adelaide Show Grounds utilising Cohda’s self-driving autonomous vehicles to test vehicle positioning and V2X technologies. Motor Vehicles (Cohda Wireless Autonomous Vehicle Positioning Trials) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 16 August 2018, p3103.

Flinders Autonomous Shuttle Trial located at the Tonsley Innovation District to 30 June 2020. Flinders University will trial a Navya shuttle on a fixed route on public roads in the Tonsley Innovation District connecting passengers to the train station providing a first/last mile transit solution. Motor Vehicles (Flinders Autonomous Shuttle Trial) Notice No 27, Government Gazette dated 19 April 2018, p1337.

Aurrigo autonomous cargo pod trial located at the Tonsley Innovation Precinct from 7 February 2018 to 30 June 2019. The autonomous pod will trial performing deliveries of light freight within the Tonsley Innovation Precinct. The autonomous pod will also be used to transport small numbers of passengers in this area. Motor Vehicles (Aurrigo Autonomous Cargo Pod Trial) Notice 2018, Government Gazette dated 6 February 2018, p605.

Driverless Shuttle demonstration trial located at West Lakes on 18 November 2017. Motor Vehicles (ARRB Autonomous Vehicles Trial) Notice 2017 No 2, Government Gazette dated 14 November 2017, p4569.

Driverless Shuttle demonstration trials for the 2nd International Driverless Vehicles Summit on 16 - 17 November 2017, located in the Riverbank Precinct, North Adelaide. Motor Vehicles (ARRB Autonomous Vehicles Trial) Notice 2017 No 1, Government Gazette dated 7 November 2017, p4508.

News

Cohda Connected Autonomous Vehicle Trials

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Cohda Wireless, a global leader in autonomous V2X technology, received two grants totalling up to $2 million from the Future Mobility Lab Fund to conduct on-road trial projects on the streets of Adelaide to test how vehicles communicate to one another and with roadside infrastructure, as well as expanding the Cohda’s work in ‘Vehicle to Everything’ communications (V2X).

Flinders Autonomous Shuttle Trial

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Flinders University will receive up to $1 million of Future Mobility Lab Funds for a five-year, three stage, $4 million driverless last mile shuttle project - for which Flinders University and the RAA have partnered with industry supporters Cohda Wireless, Renewal SA, SAGE Automation, SIEMENS, Telstra, UPG, ZEN Energy and public transport operator Keolis Downer.