Designing a Replacement for the Survey of Motor Vehicle Use
Arcadia Social Research developed a two-phase approach to replace the discontinued motor vehicle survey, combining improved survey design with a roadmap for automated data collection.
Context
The discontinuation of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Survey of Motor Vehicle Use created a significant gap in national transport data, prompting the Department to seek a modern, cost-effective alternative. In partnership with the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies, Arcadia Social Research was tasked with identifying scalable methods to continue delivering critical insights for infrastructure planning, emissions policy and road safety regulation.
Approach
Our work unfolded in two phases. First, we re-imagined a survey-based approach, refining question design, testing clarity with vehicle owners and proposing a streamlined tracking period to reduce respondent burden while maintaining continuity with the previous survey’s core metrics. In parallel, we explored emerging data-collection technologies, reviewing a range of mobility datasets and telemetry options. Drawing on consultations with transport authorities and industry specialists, we evaluated each option’s accuracy, feasibility and cost implications, before outlining and costing a pilot study to validate the most promising solutions.
Result
The project provided the Department with a pathway to replace the previous Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, in the short term, and a longer-term road map that supports a smooth transition towards automated data capture via in-car technology, without sacrificing the ability to compare with historical trends.
Social & Policy Area
Note
This project was completed when operating as 3arc Social.