Victoria to install LiDAR at high-crash intersections

A crash-prone intersection in Melbourne's inner-west will become Victoria's first to host connected and autonomous vehicle technologies in a bid to reduce collisions.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors will be fitted at the intersection of Williamstown and Somerville Roads in the suburb of Yarraville to monitor and analyse all crashes and near misses.

Minister for Roads, Roads Safety, and the Transport Accident Commission Jaala Pulford said the trial will provide insights to increase safety at busy, complex intersections.

Cars fitted with connected vehicle technology, which was first floated in the state earlier this year, will also receive real-time warnings of potential hazards at the intersection.

The trial is being run by a consortium of technology and engineering solutions providers called Omni-Aware, made up of three companies including Intelligent Transport Services, Transoptim Consulting and IBIS Computer.

Pulford said that a third of fatalities on Victorian roads occur at intersections, with data from Vic Roads showing there have been around 50 accidents on or near the site of the trial since 2014 resulting in a serious injury or fatality.

“Victoria has always led the way in connected and automated vehicle technology, this is another way we’re making our infrastructure and policies support the uptake of this life-saving technology,” Pulford added.

Funding for the project is part of the state government’s $9 million Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program, which has so far funded driverless car trials with Bosch on rural roads.