Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister, Melinda Pavey, has announced increased funding for Crashlab to enhance local crash test capability to assist with independent testing of autonomous vehicle safety technologies.
The Government is investing $1.6 million to upgrade the existing Crashlab test facility to enable the assessment of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems and other advanced driver assistance systems.
Mrs Pavey said the Government understands the importance of vehicle safety in reducing road trauma, which is why driver assistance technologies like AEB, lane-keep assist and speed assistance systems are so important.
"Expanding Crashlab's capabilities to test new and emerging vehicle safety technologies will support ANCAP in its important role in encouraging the introduction of AEB and other life-saving technologies across the national vehicle fleet," Mrs Pavey said.
"This means that to achieve a five star ANCAP safety rating, an effective AEB or lane support system will be required on all new vehicles rated."
"These upgrades will see NSW offer a world class vehicle safety testing capability covering crash protection, and even more importantly, crash prevention."
This investment comes in addition to the recent upgrade of crash test equipment and acquisition of new, more sophisticated dummies, catering for the broadened ANCAP safety rating program in place from 1 January 2018.
"The independent assessment of autonomous vehicle safety technologies is a new and important element of the ANCAP safety regime this year, and this commitment from the NSW Government will extend ANCAP's capability in this area," ANCAP Director – Communications & Advocacy, Mrs Rhianne Robson said.
"This investment to expand the service and enable the safety performance of autonomous technologies to be assessed locally will greatly enhance road safety for all Australians."
The NSW Government is a founding member of ANCAP and through the Roads and Maritime Services' Crashlab test facility, contributes to the ongoing testing and assessment of vehicle safety encouraging vital vehicle safety improvements.