ITS Monday: Edition 33, 2025

Tesla’s self-driving mode is coming to Australia amid controversy – but it won’t create true driverless cars

First-up this week is Professor Hussein Dia writing in The Conversation. “Tesla is expected to soon turn on its “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” (FSD) mode in Australia and New Zealand.

Is a future of driverless cars upon us? Not exactly – it’s essentially more advanced driver assistance. Legally, Tesla drivers using this mode must be ready to take control and pay attention at all times. Calling it “full self-driving” is questionable.”

Related iMOVE articles:

• Autonomous Driving Info, Projects & Resources
• Autonomous Driving Technology: Info, Projects & Resources

Related iMOVE projects:

• CAVs and Australians: Attitudes, perceptions, preferences
• Environmental impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles
• Safely deploying automated vehicles on Australian roads

Rethinking the current private road toll model

An audio interview with Professor David Hensher. “In recent decades, Australia has become highly dependent on privatised toll roads, with many problems and hidden costs impacting taxpayers. The cities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne together have 22 private toll roads, with major transportation company Transurban running 18 of them. So how can the current road funding system be reformed to better serve the public?”

Department of Transport and Planning – Strategic Plan 2025 – 2029

“The Department of Transport and Planning has published its Strategic Plan 2025-29. The Plan affirms the department’s shared vision and priorities for the next four years – to create thriving places and connected communities.

The Plan has been updated to reflect changes to the current operating environment, establishes a clear strategic planning framework and enhanced measures of success to highlight how the work we deliver everyday aligns to our strategic direction, now and into the future.”

Connected cars’ security issues highlighted in new report

“A new study from Óbuda University in Budapest and the University of Oslo has shed light on the security threats posed by connected cars, where current rules fall short, and how drivers feel about the security of their vehicles. Cybersecurity experts say the combination of innovation and uneven security controls leaves the industry exposed.”

That’s where micromobility comes in.

Related iMOVE article:

• Connected Vehicles: Info, Projects & Resources

Related iMOVE project:

• Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot: Final reports
• Secure Data Provenance in the Internet of Vehicles
• Cyber security for connected vehicles and vehicular networks

A self-driving car traffic jam is coming for US citiest

“… But that could prove disastrous for cities, causing crushing congestion (not to mention widening the gulf between those happily ensconced in their AVs and those stuck in buses crawling through gridlock). This is not pure speculation: Over the last 15 years, the rise of ride-hail, a service similar to robotaxis, has increased total driving, thickened congestion, and undermined transit. Autonomous vehicles, which offer privacy and service consistency that ride-hail cannot, could turbocharge the number of cars on the road, making a mess of urban streets.”