The NSW Government is preparing its roads for the driverless vehicles of the future.

The State Government has put together a blueprint for regional transport over the next 40 years.

“Certainly in terms of safety, first and foremost, it will be a big change,” Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

“What we will see I believe over the next 15 to 20 years is a move from semi-autonomous vehicle functions in cars and trucks today, to one which will become fully autonomous.

“And we are working to make sure that with the advent of autonomous vehicles, particularly in the bush, we do actually look at what's required in an infrastructure sense.”

Mr Constance said automation would completely change crash and fatality rates.

The market mechanisms underpinning logistics and supply management mean the trucking industry cannot avoid change, so the government must work with those forces, the Minister said.

Research has forecast that freight movements will double across metropolitan areas and increase by up to 25 per cent in the bush by 2056.

One of the first trucking automation technoliges to hit the roads will be “freight platooning”, wherein several trucks link wirelessly to travel in a platoon.

The system is already being tested by major manufacturers, and is expected to bring significant fuel savings.

NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said the state should try to attract autonomous vehicle trials for regional New South Wales.

“That is the area that is probably weaker in our road safety statistics and we want to see that improved,” she said.

“I think it is going to be a very big game changer in terms of safety.

“And it is vital that regional communities are part of it and we are not scared about how it's going to change things because it's going to make the roads safer.”

She said the state is bringing in legislation to prepare for the change.

“Our officials are watching what's happening throughout the world. We want to be part of it, we don't want to make it complicated if anybody wants to come in and bring autonomous vehicle technology that's going to make it safer on our roads,” Ms Pavey said.

“It's contrary to our own instincts to think it would be safe without a driver behind the wheel but we must remember that 94 per cent of all accidents involve human error and if we can harness the latest technology, we can actually save lives and drive the road toll down.”

The draft regional transport plan is open for comment until December 3.