The Intelligent Access Program (IAP) is the 'third generation of access' to the Australian road network complementing General and Restricted Access with 'Intelligent' Access.

The IAP is a voluntary program which provides heavy vehicles with access, or improved access, to the Australian road network in return for monitoring of compliance with specific access conditions by vehicle telematics solutions.

This much-needed reform is being administered and implemented by Transport Certification Australia Limited (TCA) who have been working with government departments, telematic providers and members from the transport industry to develop the IAP and to ensure its on-going success.

The IAP has been developed at a time where the Australian road system is facing influences that are increasingly in conflict. These influences include:

• a growing transport task,
• constrained road infrastructure budgets,
• pressure from the road transport industry to permit operation of heavier vehicles to meet demand,
• community expectations about the safety of the road network and about the ready general availability of goods and services.

Road transport laws seek to manage these conflicts by defining the rights and responsibilities of road users and legislating penalties for non-compliance. Current on-road enforcement procedures are unable to guarantee high levels of compliance with road transport laws. Jurisdictions are therefore constrained in encouraging, facilitating or permitting innovative approaches to road use which may include more efficient heavy vehicles.

The problem to which the IAP responds is therefore multi-layered.

• Innovative vehicle technology will be needed to absorb growing demand for road space, given tightening road infrastructure constraints.
• Innovative vehicles, being larger or heavier, may pose safety and / or infrastructure protection risks.
• The current on-road enforcement methodology is poorly placed to manage these additional risks.

More information can be found at www.IAP.gov.au.