Got questions about the RAC Intellibus? We've got answers
Frequently asked questions
The RAC Intellibus® trial was Australia’s first and longest-running driverless vehicle trial. The trial started in 2016 and ended in 2023, after nearly seven years on WA’s public roads.
The trial was mainly run along a 3.5km route in South Perth. Chaperones accompanied passengers for every ride to explain how the vehicle safely interacted with traffic, parked cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
The trial also visited Busselton and Geraldton, where more than 3500 passengers had a firsthand glimpse of autonomous technology.
This was Australia’s first and longest-running public autonomous vehicle trial. The RAC Intellibus® allowed over 28,000 passengers in metropolitan and regional areas to experience driverless technology. The program had consistently high levels of passenger confidence, safety perception and community support. This showed that we can achieve public acceptance when autonomous vehicles are used with care.
RAC’s work helped shape national and state policy, and inform regulatory reform. It also established new safety, insurance and permitting frameworks. These learnings were translated into evidence-based submissions to government. This contributed to the development of guidelines for automated vehicle trials, safety assurance and data governance across Australia. Many of these frameworks will continue to underpin future autonomous vehicle deployments nationwide.
The RAC Intellibus® (PDF 5.4MB) evaluation report has full information on this. The conclusion of the RAC Intellibus® trial isn’t an end point for RAC’s involvement in autonomous mobility. Rather, it provides a foundation for the next phase. Future autonomous driving in Australia is likely to progress incrementally. We'll likely see safer, more capable vehicles and clearer regulations. At RAC, we’ll continue to contribute where it adds the greatest value. We’ll advocate for road safety, and we’ll support well-informed policies. We believe the introduction of automation delivers tangible benefits for members and the wider community.