HVIA Call For Supportive Automated Vehicle Regulations

HVIA has called for a regulatory framework that supports industry in adopting automated vehicles, rather than creating compliance requirements that are overly burdensome, or financially unfeasible.

The appeal is contained in the heavy vehicle industry association’s response to a consultation paper released by the National Transport Commission (NTC) in late April outlining its proposed approach to regulating automated vehicles, which it predicted could begin to appear on Australian roads as early as 2026.

HVIA hosted three guest speakers from the NTC and the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport to its Online Member Meeting held in late May, who presented on the future regulatory options and open questions.

Chief Technical Officer Adam Ritzinger, who has discussed views on the proposed new regulations with a wide range of members, says: “It is a brave new world, and we must ensure that we get the regulatory settings right, else we risk being stuck with impractical laws for decades.

“In particular, HVIA wants to see a regulatory framework that supports the industry in adopting new technology, rather than creating compliance requirements that are overly burdensome, or financially unfeasible”.

“Similarly, the Heavy Vehicle National Law is widely regarded as overly long, complicated, inefficient, and too prescriptive. Future national laws of similar magnitude, such as the proposed Automated Vehicle Safety Law (AVSL), must expressly avoid repeating its mistakes.”

In its submission, HVIA specifically calls for:

• Setting obligations that are appropriate to levels of influence and control, similar to the way Chain of Responsibility laws work;
• Achieving harmonisation across all levels (internationally, and locally);
• Allowing the technology to improve fatigue management outcomes, and overcoming the labour shortage; and
• Avoiding overlapping regulations.

As always, HVIA is committed to proactive and collaborative discussions with regulators and other stakeholders, to improve safety, productivity, and efficiency for the entire heavy vehicle industry.

Read HVIA’s submission here.