The historic RAC Intellibus® trial has finished after nearly seven years operating on public roads, highlighting how automated travel can be safe and accessible for the entire community.

Launched in 2016, the award-winning RAC Intellibus® was Australia’s first and longest-running trial of a driverless vehicle, ending after more than 38,000kms of travel in Perth and regional WA.

RAC Acting Group Executive Social and Community Impact Will Golsby said the trial gave more than 28,000 people the chance to experience automated vehicle technology first-hand.

“This trial broke new ground in the automated vehicle space in Australia, putting WA at the forefront of this emerging and exciting technology,” Mr Golsby said.

“Trials like these are crucial to understanding our future transport needs and adapting to our rapidly evolving mobility landscape.”

The RAC Intellibus® operated in partnership with the City of South Perth along a 3.5-kilometre route with chaperones accompanying passengers for each ride to explain how the vehicle safely interacted with traffic, parked cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

The RAC Intellibus® also visited regional WA, with demonstrations in Busselton and Geraldton that saw nearly 4,000 people take a ride.

“These initiatives allowed our community and policymakers to learn more about the potential impacts and opportunities of automated vehicle technology, including improving road safety,” Mr Golsby said.

“Human error contributes to more than 90 per cent of crashes, so safely transitioning to higher levels of automation could help prevent hundreds of deaths and thousands of serious injuries on our roads.”

The trial was made possible thanks to the support of the Cities of South Perth, Busselton, and Greater Geraldton, the Australian and WA Governments including the Department of Transport, Main Roads WA and the Public Transport Authority, along with local consulting experts.

“The trials have ensured thousands of Western Australians could experience and share their views on the technology and help prepare us for a driverless future,” Mr Golsby said.

“We will continue to strongly engage in this important policy space and encourage all levels of government to prioritise and plan for rapid advancements in automated technology on our roads.”

ENDS

Media contact: Laura Gardiner, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au

 

Additional background

RAC Imagine Program:

  • Since 2019, 4,173 primary school students 'Imagined the Possibilities’ at the RAC Imagine Program™ which was delivered in partnership with the City of South Perth and City of Greater Geraldton during the regional demonstration. Students took a ride on the Intellibus while also participating in several activities to learn about the changing nature of transport and road safety.

Awards:

  • Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (Innovation): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus®
  • AIM West Business Pinnacle Awards (Innovation Award): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus®
  • Intelligent Transport Solutions (ITS) Australia Automated Vehicle Award: RAC Intellibus®
  • Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (Innovation): Automated Vehicle Trial, RAC Intellibus®
  • Australian College Road Safety Diamond Road Safety Award: Automated Vehicle Trial
  • Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management Excellence Awards (Best Project)
  • Transport Forum’s Transport Achievement Award (Special Mention)

Submissions on automated vehicle technology:

  • RAC responded to the National Transport Commission’s Guidelines for Automated Vehicle Trials  Discussion Paper.
  • RAC provided a response to the National Transport Commission’s Discussion Paper on Changing driving laws to support automated vehicles.
  • RAC provided a submission to the Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources to the inquiry into the social issues relating to land-based driverless vehicles in Australia.
  • RAC responded to the National Transport Commission’s Discussion Paper, Review of guidelines for trials of automated vehicles in Australia.

R/evolve sculpture:

  • RAC and the City of South Perth jointly commissioned an artwork titled R/evolve created by Tony Jones Art Projects. Based on the South Perth foreshore directly in and standing three metres tall, the R/evolve sculpture conveys a sense of rapid movement and progress, symbolising the changing nature of transport in our growing city.
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