The National Transport Commission wants help defining the terms “control” and “proper control” in road rules relating to automated vehicles.

Road laws are currently based on the principle a human is in control of a vehicle.

The commission wants submissions on developing national enforcement guidelines to clarify whether a human driver or automated system is in control at various levels of automation.

CEO Paul Retter says agreement on the definition of “proper control” is a fundamental step in preparing Australia for the safe deployment of automated vehicles.

“Vehicles with an automated driving system that can perform parts of the driving task challenge these concepts of control,” he said. “We need to arrive at an agreed position early to provide certainty for police and enforcement agencies.”

Mr Retter says a national consensus will provide certainty for consumers, manufacturers and insurers around the question of crash liability.

One proposal allows a driver to supervise automated driving without needing a hand on the wheel at certain levels of automation.

This would involve introducing indicators related to alertness and readiness to intervene.

Feedback will inform the development of national enforcement guidelines, which will be presented to transport ministers in November.

Submissions are open until 4pm on Friday June 2. Click here.