People are five times as likely to be killed on a Victorian country road than in the city and a trial of driverless cars is under way in a bid to improve safety.
The cutting-edge automated vehicle technology is being developed by Bosch as part of a $2.3 million state government grant and will be tested on high-speed rural roads later this year.
"This trial is an exciting step towards driverless vehicles hitting the road," Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said.
Bosch has been granted the state's first permit to allow automated vehicles for on-road testing, with other successful applicants to be announced soon.
The tests will expose the vehicle to a range of conditions, such as weather and traffic, with the aim of improving safety on rural roads.
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"The tragic fact is that you're five times as likely to be killed on a rural road than in the city. That's why we're rolling out a record roads investment in rural Victoria - and this is another way we can improve safety and save lives," Ms Allan said.
Bosch Australia president Gavin Smith said the firm was eager to start the trial, showing how technologies could improve safety and reduce trauma on rural roads.
