The $5m Smarter Highways program, launched by the Labor government, will harness emerging and existing technologies to address driver behaviour issues that can lead to crashes.
Each trial will feature technology that detects an issue on the network, causing systems to be activated to warn drivers about hazards and, if possible, provide alternative options.
The aim is to improve journey management, especially when a major disruption occurs.
Most of the trial technologies are wireless solar-powered systems that the government claims can be installed “relatively cheaply” and are tailored to suit individual sites, taking into account the environment and conditions of the road.
These technologies include:
- Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environmental Systems: Self-adaptive electronic signage with machine learning capability which is able to predict events and provide motorists with advance warning of hazards such as black ice, smoke or wildlife.
- Permanent traffic counters – Road Pod Vehicle Magnetometer: A new form of permanent traffic counter device installed on the road which can detect and provide information on vehicle volumes, classifications, speeds, headways, road temperatures and system health in real time.
- Rural Intersection Activated Warning System: When a vehicle on a side road approaches a high-speed main road, sensors trigger Variable Speed Limit Signs (VSLS), which instruct drivers on the main road to slow down.
- Permanent Congestion Management: Using existing technology, such as radars and traffic signals, and combining them in a way that will enable dynamic management of traffic congestion at a notorious breakdown location in the Blue Mountains.
Transport for NSW will trial the technologies on state-managed highways but also consider how they could be adapted for use on local roads, in partnership with councils.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: “The Minns Labor Government is committed to making our road network safer, more reliable and more resilient to better connect our communities. We are always looking at harnessing innovations in technology as they become available.
“What’s so important about Smarter Highways is that the technology’s focus is to effect behavioural change and reduce risky driving actions, such as not driving to the conditions, that we know contribute to deaths and injuries on our roads.
“I’m glad that the Smarter Highway technologies will be trialled in the regions because outside of the cities, driving is often the only available form of transport and sometimes there are no alternative routes, so we need to make those journeys safer.”
The trials aim to improve safety for road users but also for road crews, by reducing the risks of carrying out works near traffic.
“The aim is to minimise the amount of time work crews have to spend in live traffic environments by increasing the use remotely controlled traffic operations, which creates a safer work environment,” Aichison added.