The Victorian Government has announced it will begin an Australian first connected vehicles trial to improve road safety. Cars automatically connecting with each other and roadside infrastructure will begin testing features like emergency braking alerts, turn assist and speed limit warnings. The vehicles are not autonomous but the technology is foundational for driverless cars.

The Victorian Government tipped in $3.5 million from its $9 million Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program, with lead partners Telstra and Lexus providing the technology.

Trials have been underway since late last year, when the project was announced, but vehicles will now move out of controlled conditions onto metropolitan and regional roads.
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