People with Disability and Connected and Automated Vehicles

As technology advances and new forms of public transport emerge, concerns have been raised about the impact this will have on people with disability. New technology has the potential to reduce inequalities and improve public transport accessibility for people with disability. However, if this technology is not accessible, it may worsen existing issues and present new barriers to accessing public transport.

The department has partnered with La Trobe's Centre for Technology Infusion (CTI) and iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre (iMOVE) to develop guidance materials for developers of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) and operators and providers of public transport. These guidelines will help to ensure people with disability are considered in the design and implementation of this technology.

imove image of a small electrical vehicle in front of a building.

The full guidelines are available for download in PDF and accessible word format:

For more information, visit the iMOVE website.

Background

The objectives of this project were to:

  • Develop CAV accessibility guidelines that promote consensus and consistency in the service and vehicle design before formal standards come into place.
  • Update the Whole Journey Guide with new examples of emerging technologies that can improve accessibility. These case examples will be included in an updated Whole Journey Guide.

This work builds on a previous iMOVE project which considered the barriers and opportunities of CAVs for people with disability; and how CAVS being deployed in the Australian market will be regulated under the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002. The full report and accompanying documents for this project are available to download in PDF and accessible word formats:

Further information on the Australian Government's work on CAVs is available on the Automated vehicles page.