A new traffic light system to allow more time for trucks to pass through before changing to a red and an interactive livestock loading calculator are just two of 12 projects to receive a total of $4.2 million in funding in the latest round of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).
To date, the Australian Government has invested more than $45 million across 181 HVSI projects since the program started in 2016, said a statement announcing the latest funding round administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
“In 2024–25, sadly we saw 190 lives lost in crashes involving heavy vehicles,” said NHVR CEO Nicole Rosie.
“Reducing fatalities and serious injuries from heavy vehicle incidents is the number one priority for the NHVR and there is still plenty to be done.
“Through this program, we can continue to engage with safety-focused groups to improve on these numbers and make Australia’s roads safer for everyone.”
The NHVR doesn’t release details of how much money each project receives from the fund but on its website said it supports “implementable, value-for-money projects that deliver tangible improvements” to heavy vehicle safety.
Among the latest round of funding recipients, the ‘Hold on Heavy’ project from SAGE Automation is for the development of AI technology that will dynamically adjust green phases based on real-time detection of heavy vehicles, reducing incidents involving heavy vehicles and improving overall traffic safety, states the NHVR’s HVIA web page.
“Detection of heavy vehicles and extension of the phases is achievable through current and proven ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) technologies.
“Modifications to traffic signal logic will extend the green phase if there is an approaching heavy vehicle, up to a maximum phase limit. If the phase exceeds the maximum phase limit but heavy vehicles are still approaching, a flag provides an extension to the red phase based on the estimated mass and velocity of the vehicle.”
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association also received funding for its Interactive Livestock Loading Calculator, a web-based tool designed to assist livestock transport operators in determining optimal loading patterns for various heavy vehicle configurations and livestock species.
“Users can input trip details, vehicle specifications, and livestock characteristics to automatically generate accurate loading patterns, axle weight summaries, and downloadable compliance reports. The calculator features a mobile-friendly interface, accessible via web browsers even in remote areas, and includes visual representations of vehicle configurations to aid decision-making in the field.”