The Centre for Road Safety’s Cooperative Intelligent Transport Initiative (CITI) uses technology attached to vehicles and road infrastructure such as traffic lights.

The technology can send warning messages to the cars about issues up ahead like accidents or hazards.

A trial in the Illawarra using trucks and buses is under way in the Illawarra but the centre is now looking to extend it to cars.

“So far, findings from the heavy vehicle trial indicate that most drivers are positive towards the technology and think it would make roads safer if more vehicles on the network were fitted with the technology and the accuracy improves,” said Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward.

The next step in the trial is to include cars and volunteers were being sought.

“To participate, you need to have children attending one of the schools involved in the trial within the wider Wollongong area and to regularly drive them to or from school three or more times a week,” Mr Ward said.

“In the first stage we are recruiting parents and carers from schools in the area from as far north as Corrimal and as far south as Coniston.

“This is to ensure vehicles fitted with the technology travel in the same area at the same time.”

Volunteers need to be the driver of the vehicle at least 80 per cent of the time.

In return for participating, volunteers will receive a $200 petrol voucher and their child’s school P&C will receive a $200 donation.

The participating schools are: Para Meadows Public, Wollongong Public, Smith’s Hill High, St Mary Star of the Sea, Gwynneville Public, St Therese’s Primary, The Illawarra Grammar School, Coniston Public, Mt St Thomas Public, Balgownie Public, Pleasant Heights Public, Corrimal Public and Corrimal High.

During the trial driving data will be captured and analysed and participants will be involved in surveys and focus groups about their experiences.

For more information or to volunteer for the trial email  CITI.Support@transport.nsw.gov.au, call 1300 679 472 or visit this site.