A new program of low-cost technology trials have been launched on highways throughout regional New South Wales (NSW) to prompt safer driver behavior on roads in 2025.

The $5 million Smarter Highways program aims to harness emerging and existing technologies in innovative ways to address driver behavioral issues that can lead to crashes.

Each trial will feature technology that detects an issue on the network causing systems to be activated to warn drivers about hazards and, if possible, provide alternative options.

The Government said most of the trial technologies are wireless solar-powered systems that can be installed relatively cheaply and are also tailored to suit individual sites, taking into account the environment and conditions of the road.

Smarter Highways is part of a suite of measures to improve road safety but also aims to use technology to help create a safer work environment for road crews, traffic managers and emergency workers by reducing the amount of time they are exposed to live traffic.

Transport for NSW will trial the technologies on state managed highways but will also consider how they could be adapted for use on local roads, in partnership with councils.

“What’s so important about Smarter Highways is that the technology’s focus is to effect behavioral change and reduce risky driving actions, such as not driving to the conditions, that we know contribute to deaths and injuries on our roads,” said Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison.

“I’m glad that the Smarter Highway technologies will be trialed in the regions because outside of the cities, driving is often the only available form of transport and sometimes there are no alternative routes, so we need to make those journeys safer.

“Key to these innovations is improving safety for road crews by reducing the risks of carrying out works near traffic. The aim is to minimize the amount of time work crews have to spend in live traffic environments by increasing the use remotely controlled traffic operations, which creates a safer work environment.”