Moving from research to reality: rolling out ISA technology across New South Wales

In October 2010 the NSW Minister for Roads announced the results of what at the time was the largest trial of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology conducted outside of Sweden. The NSW ISA Trial involved more than 100 privately owned vehicles that travelled over 1.9 million kilometres. Modelling from the trial suggested that if every vehicle in NSW was fitted with an Advisory ISA device then major road safety benefits could be expected - including a reduction in fatalities of 8.4 per cent and a 5.9 per cent reduction of serious injuries. The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is currently working on a number of projects to bring ISA technology from a research project to a reality for drivers and riders across the State. The RTA SpeedLink system holds spatially referenced data on the location of every regulatory speed sign and speed zone across NSW's 185,000 km road network and provides the baseline data for all RTA ISA systems. The RTA is currently installing a customised Advisory ISA device to its entire shared vehicle fleet, which comprises of approximately 90 vehicles. This will be a first for an Australian Government fleet. The system includes a satellite navigation system as well as an application to enable drivers to report identified speed zone errors to the project team. The Authority is also developing a number of smart phone Advisory ISA applications for major mobile phone platforms which will be made freely available to all NSW drivers. The national adoption of these developments will provide uniformity and greater road safety benefits.