The New South Wales government has today launched a new program of low-cost technology trials on the state’s regional highways to promote safer driver behaviour in 2025.
The $5 million Smarter Highways program will use emerging and existing technologies to address driver behavioural issues that can lead to crashes.
The trials will feature technology that detects an issue on the network, causing systems to be activated to warn drivers about hazards and, if possible, alternative options.
The technologies will first be trialled on state managed highways, but Transport for NSW will consider how to adapt them for use on local roads in partnership with councils.
“The NSW 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,” NSW regional transport and regional minister Jenny Aitchison says.
“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.
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“Key to these innovations is improving safety 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.”
The majority of the trial technologies use wireless solar-powered systems that can be installed relatively cheaply and are also tailored to suit individual sites, taking into account the environment and conditions of the road.
The Smarter Highways initiative is part of measures implemented to improve road safety using new technology.
The Smarter Highway Activated Vehicle and Environmental Systems, or SHAVES, is a self-adaptive electronic signage with machine learning capability that can predict events and warn of hazards. It’s designed to replace current processes of portable Variable Message Signs (VMS), with trial locations under investigation.
On top of this, permanent traffic counters will detect and provide information on vehicle volumes, classifications, speeds, headways and road temperatures in real time.
The low cost 4G technology system is powered by solar panels and replaces ad-hoc traffic surveys, with the system to be trialled on the Great Western Highway in Kelso and the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
On top of this, a Rural Intersection Activated Warning System, or RIAWS, will instruct drivers on main roads to slow down if a vehicle on a side road approaches, with the trial location under investigation.
More technology, such as one providing safe reliable access in times of unplanned events, will be conducted at Jenolan Caves ahead of its planned public opening later this year, as well as Cowra where roads are often flooded.
The final system is permanent congestion management, with existing technology combined to manage traffic congestion at a notorious breakdown location in the Blue Mountains.
At Victoria Pass near Mount Victoria, the trial will become a permanent replacement of a current system if it’s successful.
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