Published on Monday, 1 June 2026 at 12:17:00 PM
Emerging vehicle technologies, such as connected, automated and electric vehicles, are beginning to influence how roads are designed, operated and maintained. Austroads’ 2026 report Design Principles for Roads and Infrastructure for Future Mobility Solutions provides practical guidance to help Local Governments prepare for this transition.
Preparing local roads for future mobility is not just a technology challenge, it is a safe system responsibility. As system designers and network managers, Local Governments play a critical role in ensuring emerging vehicle technologies interact safely with people, speeds and infrastructure.
The Austroads report supports this role by setting out practical design principles that can be applied incrementally, and aligned to local context, budgets and organisational readiness.
Key Takeaways for Local Governments
- Strong Fundamentals Enable a Safe System
Clear road markings, consistent signage, predictable intersections and well‑maintained surfaces are critical for both human drivers and vehicle technologies, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and automated systems. Maintaining asset quality is an investment that supports future mobility.
- Managing Information as a Safety Asset
Accurate digital road data, signal connectivity and clear governance arrangements will underpin future vehicle‑to‑infrastructure communication. Councils can take early steps by improving asset data quality and aligning with state and national standards, even if advanced systems are not yet deployed. The report reinforces that preparing for future mobility is fundamentally a governance and management task, not a technology rollout. Clear policy direction, defined accountability, strong asset and data management, and coordination with state agencies are critical enablers.
- A Risk‑Based, Network‑Wide Approach
Not every local road needs the same level of technological support. The report promotes a risk‑based, targeted approach, focusing higher levels of investment on priority routes while still applying safe system principles across the rest of the network.
- Keeping People at the Centre of the System
Infrastructure must continue to safely support pedestrians, cyclists, micromobility and mixed traffic for decades. Automated vehicles are expected to coexist with conventional road users for the foreseeable future.
What Local Governments Can Do Now
- Embed future mobility principles into routine renewals and upgrades
- Prioritise consistency, clarity and maintenance quality across the network
- Strengthen digital asset and data management
- Coordinate with state agencies and neighbouring Councils
The full Austroads report and its accompanying online tool provides Councils with a practical framework to navigate this transition, helping ensure local roads remain safe, adaptable and fit for purpose, no matter how mobility evolves.
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