The first driverless vehicle to operate on public roads in regional WA will be trialled in the City of Busselton.
The RAC Intellibus, a fully electric shuttle bus, is set to arrive in the region under a partnership between RAC and the city.
The technology was launched in South Perth in 2016 and has seen more than 11,000 people use the service.
RAC executive general manager advocacy and members, Patrick Walker said the project would start in late March or April and would run for about eight weeks in the vicinity of the Busselton Foreshore.
“Metropolitan and regional areas differ in many ways — from the types of road crashes that occur, to the transport options available — which is why we’ve made it a priority to engage regional communities as part of our world leading automated vehicle trials.”
“Human error is the cause of the vast majority of road deaths and serious injuries, so if we can help safely transition to driverless vehicles sooner, hundreds of Australian lives could be saved and thousands of serious injuries prevented.
“By giving Western Australians the chance to see and experience the technology, we gain a better understanding of what will be required to prepare WA for our driverless future.”
City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley also welcomed the announcement.
“We’re proud to partner with RAC to offer locals and visitors to Busselton a chance to be some of the
first in the world to experience and learn about this exciting new technology,” he said.
“Busselton attracts many people due to its scenic appeal and is an ideal location to host this first‐of‐its‐kind demonstration.”