Establishing an in-service safety regulatory regime for automated vehicles

Project update

In early 2022, transport and infrastructure ministers approved the national in-service safety framework for automated vehicles in Australia.

The framework strikes a balance between aligning with international standards and addressing Australia’s unique conditions.

We consulted with stakeholders to understand:

  • how the framework could best achieve national outcomes
  • potential gaps
  • the potential impacts on different sectors.

Feedback from governments and industry was considered and incorporated the final framework. Now it's been approved, we’ll work with the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to turn it into a national law.

Background

In 2020, ministers agreed to work towards establishing a national approach to regulating automated vehicles when they are commercially deployed on our roads.

Ministers agreed the approach will include a national regulator and a national law, supported by a general safety duty. Our work since then has further developed the approach to establish the detailed content of the national law.

Learn more

We held an online information session on 1 April 2022 to do a deep dive into:

  • details of the ministers’ recent decision 
  • how this new framework fits into the broader end-to-end framework for automated vehicles. 

If you have any further questions on the content within the session, or the framework more generally please contact the project team.

Email the project team

Timeline

January 2019
Drafting report
July 2019
Consulting on options
June 2020
Delivering recommendations to ministers
July 2020
Drafting report
October 2020
Consulting on options
May 2021
Delivering recommendations to ministers
June 2021
Drafting report
June 2021
Consulting on issues
February 2022
Delivering recommendations to ministers
February 2022
Drafting legislation

Contact us

Project manager Sarah Jones
Contact email sjones@ntc.gov.au