Japanese luxury car maker Lexus has won a prestigious advanced transport technology award for a connected vehicle pilot study run in Ipswich for the past two years.

Lexus Australia won the Asia-Pacific industry hall of fame award at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress in Los Angeles for the Ipswich connected vehicle pilot study.

The research involved two specially equipped Lexus RX 450h hybrid SUVs fitted with equipment that enabled the vehicles to communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure as part of a successful two-year trial in conjunction with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The advanced technology utilised roadside equipment installed at 29 intersections to provide the vehicles with early warnings including visual, audible and vibration alerts, covering a wide range of road and traffic conditions.

The hazards included speed limit changes, traffic signal status and pedestrians about to cross intersections. Safety messages were also transmitted between vehicles to help prevent collisions.

Alerts were sent by radio waves using Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) technology with a modified version of the technology fitted to around 350 other cars owned by the general public, enabling their vehicles to communicate with infrastructure and participate in the pilot.

Lexus Australia Chief Executive John Pappas said Lexus was proud to participate in the cutting-edge research as part of its global commitment to achieving zero traffic fatalities, easing congestion and reducing fuel consumption and therefore emissions.

"Lexus globally strives for mobility with zero fatalities and injuries from traffic accidents,” Mr Pappas said.

“To achieve this, we need advanced intelligent infrastructure safety technology, and the latest active and passive safety technology such as Lexus Safety System + to help avoid collisions and protect occupants.

Equipment on the roof of a lexus used in the pilot.

"Advanced car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure technology will help reduce human trauma while improved traffic flow will support reductions in fuel use and vehicle emissions, including CO₂.”

ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris described the Ipswich connected vehicle pilot as “world-leading”.  

"This project is an example of the Australian Intelligent Transport Systems industry supporting the evolution and deployment of life-saving technologies that will make our roads safer in the years to come.

"Lexus has demonstrated the tremendous outcomes that can be achieved here in Australia through effective collaborations between industry and government."

The two-year trial saw the two RX 450h vehicles cover a total of 8,550km, sending out more than 10 million messages to infrastructure and other participating vehicles.

Two million messages were received from the other 350 participating vehicles, while a further 1.2 million came from infrastructure such as traffic lights.ITS Australia is an independent non-profit organisation and the peak body for advanced transport technology in Australia, working with more than 145 member organisations worldwide to promote the development and deployment of new safety technologies.