QBE aims to gain risk insights on self-driving vehicles by providing compulsory third party cover for the first open-traffic driverless vehicle trial in Australia.

The first phase of the year-long Armidale Regional Driverless Initiative began last week at the University of New England campus in Armidale, NSW.

QBE says the trial will provide useful data, because 90-95% of vehicle accidents today are caused by human error.

“QBE seeks to understand how vehicle autonomy can create safer roads and reduce injuries to counteract the high economic and devastating social-impact costs of road trauma,” GM CTP Colleen Chapman said.

“With a view to reducing road-related deaths and injuries, we hope this trial will contribute to efforts to quantify improved road safety outcomes, including understanding how the availability of data can inform on traffic incidents.

“Crucially, this trial will also provide information about the new risk exposures presented by driverless vehicles, informing the development of future insurance products.”

A fully automated shuttle will operate on a five-kilometre route at the campus for four months before the second phase, which involves a service for residents around Armidale CBD.