Governments around the world are considering laws, regulations and standards necessary to support safe and sustainable mass deployment of connected and automated vehicles. The Department contributes to the development of international regulations and standards through the fora listed below.
The Office of Future Transport Technology (OFTT) contributes to the Australian Government’s engagement at international forums for connected and automated vehicles. Engagement at these fora ensure Australia’s interests are heard and helps ensure that international standards for connected and automated vehicles consider Australia’s unique context and environment.
The OFTT does this in consultation across Commonwealth agencies, with states and territory governments and industry.
United Nations' Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety (WP.1)
The OFTT represents Australia at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety, otherwise referred to as Working Party 1 (WP.1). Reports of the meetings are available at Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety Meetings and Events.
WP.1 has responsibility for two Conventions on Road Traffic Safety – the 1949 and the 1968 Conventions. Australia is a contracting party to the 1949 Convention. Topics discussed at WP.1 include automated vehicles, road safety, registration and licencing matters.
To contact the OFTT, email: automatedvehicles@infrastructure.gov.au.
United Nations' World Forum for the harmonisation of vehicle regulations (WP.29)
The Department's Vehicle Safety Standards area also represents Australia at the UNECE World Forum for the harmonisation of vehicle regulations, otherwise referred to as Working Party 29 (WP.29). In June 2020, WP.29 adopted two new regulations on Cybersecurity and Software Updates to be applied to vehicles with advanced automated driving functionalities. These regulations have not yet been adopted in the Australian Design Rules for vehicles entering the Australian market, but will inform their future development.
To contact the Vehicle Safety Standards area, email: standards@infrastructure.gov.au.