Smoother, Safer Motorway Merging with Collective-Perception-Based Speed Advice

On one of Melbourne’s busiest motorways, Transurban and Toyota Australia are advancing connected vehicle safety through an innovative trial of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS). 
The initiative targets one of the most challenging and high-risk driving scenarios – merging onto high-speed motorways – by delivering real-time speed guidance to drivers via Collective Perception technology. 
The trial takes place on Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway, where Toyota HiLux vehicles equipped with V2X communication capabilities receive live data from roadside infrastructure to help reduce crash risk and smooth traffic flow. Transurban’s AI-powered cameras detect the real-time location, speed and heading of vehicles on the motorway. 
This information is packaged into high-frequency Collective Perception Messages (CPM) and, alongside local high-definition maps, transmitted to vehicles approaching the freeway on-ramp using a geofenced cellular interface. Toyota’s newly-developed Optimal Merge Speed Advisory (OMSA) C-ITS application then processes the CPM and map data to determine speed guidance for the driver, and delivers an OMSA notification via an in-vehicle display. 
This is Australia’s first trial to deliver Collective Perception Messages via cellular networks, and supports advancement in scalable C-ITS deployment. It bridges today’s human-driven vehicles with tomorrow’s connected and automated transport systems, demonstrating how smart infrastructure and vehicles can work together to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability. 
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to innovation and road safety, and aligns with national transport technology strategies aimed at creating safer, smarter roads. It shows how smart infrastructure and connected vehicle technologies can complement existing traffic management systems to reduce crash risk and improve traffic flow. 
By integrating with existing infrastructure and delivering scalable, transferable outcomes, this initiative showcases how cooperative technologies are already delivering meaningful safety benefits and paving the way for future mobility.