Grab autonomous shuttle involved in near-miss with student at Punggol crossing

A Grab autonomous shuttle came close to hitting a primary school student at a pedestrian crossing in Punggol, raising fresh questions about safety protocols in the deployment of self-driving vehicles in residential areas. The near-miss occurred at one of the crossing points along the shuttle's designated route.

Grab operates two fixed autonomous shuttle routes in Punggol as part of its autonomous mobility trials. The service has been rolled out as part of efforts to provide alternative last-mile transportation options in the densely populated estate.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the integration of autonomous vehicles into public spaces where pedestrians, particularly vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren, regularly travel. Safety advocates have previously called for stricter oversight and testing standards for autonomous vehicles operating in mixed traffic environments.

It remains unclear whether the autonomous system's sensors detected the student or whether manual intervention was required to prevent a collision. Grab has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident or any immediate safety measures being undertaken.

The development comes as autonomous vehicle trials continue across Singapore, with various operators testing self-driving technology on public roads and in designated zones.