Contrary to what the name suggests, driverless vehicles typically have a human driver in them.
Though not controlling the vehicle, the driver will stay at the wheel at all times in case an emergency arises.
Back in 2019, residents had a chance to board Singapore’s first on-demand autonomous shuttle in Sentosa, as part of a trial that ran for several months.
Now, less than two years later, these driverless buses will be gliding along our streets, waiting to ferry customers to their destinations for a small fee.
Driverless Buses Costing Up to $2 Per Trip Now Available in S’pore Science Park & Jurong Island
Commuters in Singapore Science Park 2 near Haw Par Villa and on Jurong Island can now pay to ride a driverless bus, with a round trip costing 40 cents and $2 respectively.
This is the first trial of its kind in the country, ever since Singapore began experimenting with autonomous vehicles on the roads in 2015.
It will also be the first time that a driverless bus services in Singapore will collect fares from passengers and generate revenue, according to ST.
As previously mentioned, a driver will be at the wheel at all times in case of emergencies.
A bus ambassador will also be stationed on the vehicle to address commuters’ questions and concerns.
Singapore First in the World For Autonomous Vehicles Readiness
When it comes to autonomous vehicles, Singapore is at the forefront of technological development.
The KPMG autonomous vehicle readiness index, for instance, ranked Singapore first in the world last year.
This is why some companies overseas have expressed interest in bringing these buses to their countries.
The trial, which will continue until 30 April, will provide real-world data on what is needed for commercial use.
Customers Can Book a Ride on an App
At the moment, these driverless buses are operating on an on-demand basis.
Commuters first have to book a ride on an app, pay their fares online, and then board the bus when it comes around.
The app will also show them where the buses are while they’re making their loops.
However, it may be some time before these buses are rolled out for widespread use.
Around Five Years Before Driveless Buses are Rolled Out Commercially
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who was at the official launch of the two routes on Monday (25 Jan), said more work has to be done before these buses can be integrated into the system.
Some believe this could take as long as five years.
That’s why the country has conducted several autonomous vehicle trials since 2015; to accelerate this process.
“Sometimes we can research and prepare and plan when often it is better to just start doing something, and learn along the way,” Mr Ong said.
“In that way, you accelerate the learning process so that we are able to make autonomous bus services a reality sooner.”
Autonomous Vehicles May Be Safer
Contrary to what many of us think, driverless vehicles may have some safety benefits, according to a traffic safety organisation in the US.
This is because 94% of serious crashes are due to human error.
Thus, automated vehicles have the potential to remove human error from the crash equation, which will help protect drivers and passengers, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.
There have, however, been some instances of accidents involving driverless vehicles.
So, even if these autonomous vehicles are ready to ply the streets, some commuters may not be willing to board them.
What about you? Would you board a driverless vehicle?
Featured Image: Robert Ang / Shutterstock.com
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