EastLink demonstrates hands-free driving in Melbourne

A motorway operator in Australia’s Victoria state has televised a live demonstration of automated driving along a section of one of its roads. The demonstration was along a route of the EastLink, an electronically tolled section of the M3 freeway through the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. EastLink is part of Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road project. ConnectEast is an Australian company responsible for the finance, design, construction and operation of EastLink which cost nearly US$2 bi
April 10, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Spot the self-driving vehicle: EastLink demonstrates hands-free driving in Melbourne, Australia
A motorway operator in Australia’s Victoria state has televised a live demonstration of automated driving along a section of one of its roads.


The demonstration was along a route of the EastLink, an electronically tolled section of the M3 freeway through the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. EastLink is part of Melbourne's Metropolitan Ring Road project. ConnectEast is an Australian company responsible for the finance, design, construction and operation of EastLink which cost nearly US$2 billion.

For the test, a 2288 Honda CR-V VTi-LX carried out automated speed plus steering control, using the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist functions in an area of Eastlink closed to traffic. It was broadcasted live on a Melbourne television station.

The vehicle, according to Doug Spencer-Roy, EastLink’s marketing manager, steered itself along the freeway and automatically adjusted its speed.

“In one scenario, representing a traffic jam caused by an accident, the vehicle was able to bring itself safely and automatically to a complete stop behind other vehicles stopped on the freeway,” said Spencer-Roy.

The trial followed results from EastLink’s Annual Victorian Self-Driving Vehicle Survey. More than half of the 15,000 respondents said that they have very little or no awareness of self-driving cars.

Only 15% of survey participants confirmed that their car had an adaptive cruise control function. Of those that have the function, more than a quarter said they do not use it. This feature, along with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and other capabilities are said to be increasingly available in the latest passenger vehicles.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Traffic control to beat congestion
    November 6, 2012
    Max Lay discusses how congestion has posed problems throughout history from early civilisation to the present day One of the earliest known human settlements was at the Springs of Elisha at Jericho. Inevitably, locals collecting fresh water from the springs would encounter other water carriers. When a path was too narrow, or access to it was too limited, or it crossed another path, some carriers would find it necessary to stand aside for others. Priority in such cases might be based on common courtesy and p
    Read More
  • Connected vehicles: implications for road networks and mobility
    May 15, 2019
    Mobility services are expected to undergo spectacular changes within the next two decades with the introduction and widespread use of connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology. However, the transition phase from human driving to self-driving will be gradual, requiring incremental interventions on the physical and digital road network to allow it to cope with mixed vehicular traffic. Cities such as Dubai have embraced the challenge by setting a target to reach 25% driverless trips by 2030 as part o
    Read More
  • Mullum Mullum Valley untouched by progress
    July 20, 2012
    Preserving the unspoiled Mullum Mullum Valley was the major consideration when deciding to build a traffic tunnel The answer to one of the major issues facing construction of the A$2.5 billion EastLink route in Australia was simple: construct a tunnel. While it was expensive, those involved realised they had little option but to go underground to protect the environmentally sensitive Mullum Mullum Valley, an untouched area of wood and bushland in Melbourne. EastLink, the 39km toll road project on the easter
    Read More
  • Road trains project saves space as well as fuel
    February 23, 2012
    A high-tech European project involving cars could reduce fuel consumption by up to one-fifth as Patrick Smith reports. A new EU project, Sartre, is aimed at developing and testing technology for vehicles that can drive themselves in long road trains on motorways.
    Read More

Highlighted Content