The Australian Government of Victoria has approved plans to install automated and connected vehicle technology to detect crashes and near-misses.

The technology will be deployed at the intersection of Williamstown Road and Somerville Road in Yarraville, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Roads, Roads Safety and the TAC, Jaala Pulford.

One third of deaths and 44% of serious injuries caused by road accidents in Victoria occur at intersections, prompting the government to test the new technology.

It will trial light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors to monitor the intersection and analyse collisions.

The system is also capable of providing warnings about potential road hazards to vehicles with the fitted technology.

This trial will mark the first usage of LIDAR technology in Australia.

Omni Aware, a consortium of Transoptim Consulting, IBIS Computer and Intelligent Transport Services, has been selected to carry out the trial.

The trial is being funded through the government’s Connected and Automated Vehicle Trial Grants Program, which has a budget of A$9m.

Jaala Pulford said: “A third of road fatalities in Victoria happen at intersections. This trial will give us important insights on how to boost safety at intersections and keep more Victorians safe.

“Victoria has always led the way in connected and automated vehicle technology, this is another way we’re making our infrastructure and policies support the uptake of this life-saving technology.”

In June, the government started automated vehicle technology trials to make the state’s roads safer for autonomous cars.