Draft Principles for National Approach to Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems

Australian governments have been working together on how we can provide a framework to support Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in Australia.

For the purposes of this consultation, we are defining C-ITS as interconnected systems of technologies that allow road vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, road infrastructure and data services, and with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. C-ITS has the potential to deliver improved outcomes in road safety, road productivity, traffic congestion, journey times and environmental sustainability – including in the areas of public transport, shared mobility and freight – by enabling improved decision-making based on shared information. In the future, C-ITS also has the potential to improve the performance of automated vehicles on the transport network.

In the last year Australian governments have been working together to understand Australian readiness to implement C-ITS on larger scales. This work includes a study into possible C-ITS deployment models for Australia, undertaken by WSP Australia for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Arts (DITRDCA) in conjunction with Transport and Main Roads Queensland, Transport for NSW and Austroads – the report of this study forms part of this consultation’s supporting materials. The WSP study considered technical enablers for C-ITS, market models, a rapid cost benefit analysis, advice on Australia’s readiness and possible next steps. This work found:

• national consistency is essential to achieve the level of interoperability required to realise the full benefits of C-ITS;
• Australia should align itself to an international standards suite; and
• government leadership and direction is needed for C-ITS to succeed in Australia.

Governments then worked together to develop Draft Principles for a National Approach to C-ITS in Australia, on which your feedback is now being sought. Given that C-ITS is characterised by shared responsibility between and amongst governments, automotive manufacturers and a range of other industry participants, your feedback and inputs are important to help inform settling of these draft Principles.

To assist with consideration of the issue, we have also attached a short paper prepared by the Office of Future Transport Technology in this department, summarising the WSP work and setting out the main policy issues in taking C-ITS forward in Australia.

We would like to hear your views about these issues. To assist with framing your input, we are asking you to consider the following questions in your response, though we would also welcome any additional comments.

1. Are principles for a national approach to C-ITS in Australia necessary? And if so, are the draft principles, as articulated, sufficient to inform investment by industry in C-ITS?
2. Over the next 5 years, to what extent does your organisation anticipate moving into a C-ITS role or increasing its involvement in C-ITS?
3. How might C-ITS impact other vehicle connectivity systems in Australia, including vehicle/original equipment manufacturer (OEM) connectivity, vehicle/cloud connectivity, heavy vehicle telematics systems, mapping systems, etc?
4. The draft Principles include a focus on cooperation across industry, government, the research sector, and the community: what structures would be necessary to support the development of an Australian C-ITS system?
5. After the Principles, what next steps do you think would be most productive?

 For more information about connected vehicles and C-ITS, please visit the related webpages:

• Connected and Automated Vehicles
• Intelligent Transport Systems

Relevant documentation

The draft Principles for a National Approach to Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in Australia were refined in response to this consultation process. A set of refined principles was endorsed by infrastructure and transport ministers and published in February 2024.