Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for December
RoadWatch: Roundup
December 2023
Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for December. Discover our latest news, published reports, Guide updates, webinars and events.
From the Chief Executive
Austroads has enjoyed another successful year supporting our members to deliver better outcomes for the community. I have said in numerous public forums this year, how proud I am of the work of Austroads and its people. The Board has high expectations of the organisation because our people continue to deliver exceptional outcomes.
On behalf of the team at Austroads, I offer my warmest wishes for a happy and safe holiday season to you and your loved ones.
Dr. Geoff Allan, Chief Executive, Austroads
Austroads office will be closed for the holidays from Friday 22 December 2023, reopening Tuesday 2 January 2024.
Historic Appointment: Louise McCormick Takes the Helm as First Female Chair of Austroads Board
Louise McCormick, Commissioner for Infrastructure for the Northern Territory, has assumed the position of Chair of the Austroads Ltd Board. This historic appointment follows the retirement of Neil Scales OBE in June, making Louise the first woman to lead the Austroads Board.
Boasting a distinguished career spanning over two decades in both public and private sectors, Louise McCormick has solidified her reputation as a respected Executive Engineer, Chartered Fellow, and Senior Civil/Structural Engineer. Her commitment and expertise were evident during her three-year tenure as Deputy Chair on the Austroads Board.
"As the Chair of the Austroads Board, Louise will provide clear strategic direction, leveraging her wealth of experience to guide the organisation. I am looking forward to working alongside Louise and benefiting from her unparalleled guidance and leadership.
“Neil Scales’ leadership and dedication significantly contributed to Austroads’ success and growth over the past seven years. As Louise takes on this pivotal role, there is a collective recognition and appreciation for Neil's exemplary service," Geoff concluded.
Austroads is leading the implementation of a national automated access system for heavy vehicles
Austroads is taking the lead in implementing a national automated access system (NAAS) for heavy vehicles in Australia and New Zealand. The NAAS will support road managers, including road authorities, local government and third parties, to provide access decisions more efficiently, driving productivity and safety across state borders.
“Introducing a contemporary access decision-making system, like a NAAS, will reduce the current need for permits and help industry through faster responses to access requests for specific vehicle configurations and loads,” said Geoff Allan, Chief Executive of Austroads.
Aimed at providing a seamless experience for industry, the NAAS will include interfaces with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s NHVR Portal and other applications. As a single system, it will allow operators to enter their vehicle details online and receive a map that shows where they can travel.
The project is complex and requires a lot of preliminary work to be suitable for all road managers and regulators across Australia and New Zealand. The Austroads Board approved a staged project implementation to provide prudent, practical project gateways and deliver functional outcomes that support progressive adoption over the coming years.
Stage 1 of the project is currently underway to identify the key requirements for the NAAS and to undertake a legal assessment of how it will work across Australia and New Zealand.
Guidelines for designing and procuring incident response vehicles released for industry feedback
Austroads has published two new guidelines to aid with incident response vehicle design and procurement, and the use of truck-mounted attenuators in incident response.
The new publications provide guidance on the models, types and design specifications of incident response vehicles, and guidance on when and how truck-mounted attenuators and other attenuator vehicles should be used in incident response scenarios.
The practical information provided in both guidelines serves as a valuable resource for all stakeholders involved in incident response, contributing to a harmonised and safer working environment for incident response teams and road workers.
"This guidance will help create a safer environment for incident response teams and road workers while still allowing practitioners to respond to differing local needs," said Amy Naulls, Austroads Transport Network Operations Program Manager.
Austroads encourages industry professionals and stakeholders to provide feedback on the guidelines, fostering a collaborative effort to further refine and enhance these critical resources. The feedback window is open until June 1, 2024.
Tuesday 5 March 2024, 1pm AEDT
Register for a webinar with Narelle Haworth, Ashim Debnath and Drew Gaynor to learn more about the project and its findings.
Assessing Fitness to Drive 2022 - No changes to fitness to drive requirements for people diagnosed with autism
Recent publicity relating to the management of driver licensing for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has raised concerns among drivers, potential drivers, their families and health professionals. This statement from Austroads clarifies how neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD are intended to be managed according to the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards.
What are the reporting requirements for people with autism spectrum disorder?
For all health conditions and disabilities, if the symptoms of a condition are likely to impact a person’s ability to drive safely, they are obliged to report this to the licencing agency in their state or territory. This is a requirement of state and territory road safety laws throughout Australia.
The range and severity of ASD symptoms vary considerably. Some people diagnosed with ASD will not have symptoms that impact their ability to drive safely. A diagnosis of ASD or another neurodevelopmental disorder does not compel a person to report.
- Adults who are diagnosed with autism and who hold a licence, are not required to report the diagnosis if their symptoms are not likely to affect their capacity to drive safely.
- Novice drivers and those learning to drive who are diagnosed with autism are not required to report the diagnosis if their symptoms are not likely to affect their capacity to drive safely.
Anyone concerned or uncertain about the impacts of their condition on driving should consult their treating health professional.
Austroads Safety Hardware Training and Accreditation Scheme (ASHTAS) Review Committee Communiqué available
The Austroads Safety Hardware Training and Accreditation Scheme (ASHTAS) Review Committee held its second meeting on Monday 27 November 2023.
The members of the Review Committee considered and updated the Committee’s Terms of Reference. An overview of the ASHTAS initiative was presented and members discussed the early learnings and observations. Jurisdictions advised their plans on the adoption of the scheme. Mandating the scheme from 1 July 2024 are the following:
- Transport for New South Wales
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria.
Virtual reality testing demonstrates positive impacts of road tunnel aesthetic features on driving behaviour
Austroads has published the findings of two studies that investigated driver behaviour and the impact of the aesthetic tunnel treatments as participants drove through a simulated version of Sydney’s NorthConnex (NCX) tunnel.
“Anecdotal evidence has suggested that drivers may find the tunnel environment unpleasant and the driving task monotonous,” explained Ross Guppy, Transport Infrastructure Program Manager at Austroads. “Crashes associated with tunnels tend to create major disruptions to network traffic flows and well-designed features have the potential to improve safety and traffic performance.”
Using a TRACSLab virtual reality (VR) driving simulator located at the University of New South Wales, the project investigated whether the addition of aesthetic design features in long and complex tunnels, such as the NCX, could positively impact driver experience without affecting driving performance (Study 1). The project also aimed to establish whether the simulator could be used as a safety-assured means of developing and testing in-tunnel aesthetic design features (Study 2).
“This project offers a framework through which driving simulators can be used to inform the design of features both in the development of new tunnel projects and the potential resolution of issues in operational tunnels.”
Austroads progresses National Harmonisation of Temporary Traffic Management Practice
Austroads is pleased to announce a significant development in its ongoing project to harmonise temporary traffic management practices across Australia. The first Approved Training Providers (ATPs) in Victoria have now received approval to deliver training, marking a major milestone in the National Harmonisation of Temporary Traffic Management Practice.
The nationwide initiative is progressing well, with Austroads member agencies actively developing transition pathways and facilitating the Approved Training Provider application process. The project aims to implement a nationally harmonised framework for Temporary Traffic Management training, encompassing graduated learning across eight training categories, theoretical and practical training components, and national recognition of training accreditation.
Dr. Geoff Allan, Austroads Chief Executive, emphasised the significance of continued harmonisation in temporary traffic management. "The success of the Train the Trainer program, coupled with the announcement of the first Approved Training Providers, indicates that national harmonisation efforts for temporary traffic management are progressing, leading to improved safety at road worksites."
New Austroads test methods on the evaluation of seamless knitted tubular filter fabric released
Austroads has published four new test methods that describe the procedure to be used when assessing seamless knitted tubular filter fabric.
ATM822: Abrasion Resistance of Seamless Knitted Tubular Filter Fabric
ATM823: Weave Stability of Seamless Knitted Tubular Filter Fabric
ATM824: Determination of Opening Size of Seamless Knitted Tubular Filter Fabric
Seamless tubular filter fabric is a type of filtration material that is constructed in a continuous tubular form without any seams or joints. This fabric is specifically designed for use in various filtration applications where a seamless structure is important for optimal performance. It is often used in construction and drainage.
“Test methods outline a more consistent approach to the testing of materials,” says Ross Guppy, Austroads Project Manager of Transport Infrastructure. “The release of new test methods represents an important step in the move to harmonise every aspect of contemporary construction practice across Australian and New Zealand”
Australasian BIM Advisory Board launches Australasian BIM Benefits Reporting, a Guide to Information Collection
The Australasian BIM Advisory Board (ABAB) has announced the release of Australasian BIM Benefits Reporting (ABBR), a Guide to Information Collection.
The ABBR guide introduces an efficient system for collecting performance data, quantifying the advantages of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and facilitating the comparison of projects in a meaningful way.
The ABBR has been designed to enhance business intelligence and has undergone successful pilot testing across linear and vertical infrastructure projects. The system quantifies data on BIM benefits and will support information on return on investment, as well as provide a system for the analysis of historical projects.
Upcoming Austroads webinars
There is no charge for our webinars, but registration is essential. If you can’t make the live session, register and we will send you a link to the recording.
Driver Licensing Directions | Register
Tuesday, 6 February 2024, 1 pm AEDT
To guide the development of licensing practice in Australia all states and territories have agreed to the five principles of aspirational intent to guide and inform their licensing policy and work programs. This webinar will outline these five principles and describe some of the work currently underway in support of these principles.
Optimising Project Delivery Performance – Accelerated Projects | Register
Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 1 pm AEDT
While there is an extensive range of advice on project management, there is little written up on how to successfully set-up and accelerate programs of work using the best of project management and governance techniques, particularly in the context of Australian and New Zealand. The Austroads recently complete project aimed to fill this gap by highlighting key things to consider for programs generally up to $500 million from the experience of over 50 experts. This webinar will outline the findings from the project.
Guidelines for Incident Response Vehicles and Truck-Mounted Attenuators | Register
Tuesday, 5 March 2024, 1 pm AEDT
This webinar will present the results of the Austroads project that developed guidelines for incident response vehicles and truck-mounted attenuators. The project was delivered as an iMOVE project by Queensland University of Technology and Deakin University.
Recent webinar recordings
In 2023 Austroads' webinars generated more than 23K views. A big thank you to everyone who attended, watched or listened to our sessions!
Austroads tenders
- Professional Conference Organiser for Austroads Bridge Conference 2025. Closing 4pm AEDT Monday 22 January 2024.
- ABT6014 Managing the risks of high vehicle impacts to overpasses. Closing 4pm AEDT Thursday 18 January 2024.
- SRD6409 Best-practice review: mobile point-to-point speed enforcement. Closing 4pm AEDT Wednesday 3 January 2024.
- CAV6424 eCall - possible approaches for Australia and New Zealand - Stage 1. Closing 4pm AEDT Thursday 21 December 2023.
- APT6391 Update to Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4B: Asphalt. Closing 4pm AEDT Thursday 21 December 2023.
- ABT6149 Update to Guide to Pavement Technology Parts 1,3 and 4. Closing 4pm AEDT Monday 18 December 2023.
Current vacancies
Austroads and Transport Certification Australia (TCA) employ staff across a range of specialised and technical disciplines. We pay attention to maintaining a safe and welcoming work environment, where all staff have equal access to opportunities. We encourage our staff to participate in external and internal training to make sure their skills and knowledge are continuously improved. We take inclusion and diversity seriously. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our company and our work.
We have open positions for:
- Executive Assistant – Austroads
- Senior Business Analyst
BITRE research
BITRE's monthly bulletin contains current counts and summaries of road crash deaths and fatal road crashes in Australia. Data are sourced from the road traffic or police authorities in each jurisdiction.
You can also view monthly updated road safety statistics and an Australian Road Deaths Database.
Upcoming industry events
Event organisers are carefully reviewing their arrangements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please be aware that details may change at short notice.
2024 LBRCA Annual Conference, Wagga Wagga, 23-24 February 2024
Technology Maintenance & Safety Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand, 13-14 March 2024
TMAA Conference, Gold Coast, 13-15 March 2024
Roads, Tolling and Technology Conference, Brisbane, 20-21 March 2024
IPWEA Australasian Fleet Conference, Brisbane, 25-27 March 2024
