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TCA introduces new safety application for hill descents

18 December 2018

Transport Certification Australia (TCA) today released a new safety application through the National Telematics Framework to manage hill descents.

The new Hill Descent Monitoring (HDM) application monitors heavy vehicle speed on long or steep descents, as well as identifying if a vehicle has stopped before descending a hill (which can indicate if a driver has performed brake safety checks and engaged low gear).

TCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis said “HDM responds directly to calls for such an application from road agencies and regulators, as well as the transport sector.”

“It allows for new, innovative approaches to manage the safe operation of heavy vehicles traversing long or steep descents, and can overcome the need for operational restrictions which impact productivity and efficiency.”

“Introducing the HDM application through the National Telematics Framework is an example of true digital transformation.

“It demonstrates how policy objectives to improve the management of heavy vehicle speeds on long or steep descents can be deployed quickly and seamlessly, without demanding the fitment of stand-alone technologies, or the reinvention of established technical, operational or commercial settings.”

“It also highlights how technology-enabled policy reforms depend on the availability of digital infrastructure and business rules, which support an open technology market for the benefit of consumers.”

“The HDM application opens up a range of new possibilities that offer benefit to road managers, regulators and the transport sector,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

The availability of the HDM application follows the approved business case presented to the Transport and Infrastructure Council (TIC) in November 2018, which included new applications and features to the National Telematics Framework.

“The HDM application co-exists with other applications already available through the National Telematics Framework – as well as new applications and features currently being deployed from the approved business case.”

“Like all applications made available the Framework, the HDM application references common building blocks including the Telematics Data Dictionary, Telematics Data Exchange and associated Business Rules,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

The HDM application is available now through the National Telematics Framework.

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