New South Wales (NSW) Government is increasing funding for Crashlab, the Roads and Maritime Services’ vehicle testing laboratory.
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.
“Expanding Crashlab’s capabilities to test new and emerging vehicle safety technologies will support ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) in its important role in encouraging the introduction of AEB and other life-saving technologies across the national vehicle fleet,” said Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey. “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 a 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,” said ANCAP Director of Communications and Advocacy Rhianne Robson.
NSW Government is a founding member of ANCAP and through the Crashlab test facility, contributes to the ongoing test and assessment of vehicle safety.
