Self-driving shuttle narrowly avoids hitting schoolgirl in Punggol

The near-miss incident occurred at a traffic crossing in the Punggol estate, where the autonomous shuttle failed to stop in time as a young student crossed the road. Witnesses at the scene reported that the vehicle narrowly avoided striking the child, sparking immediate alarm among residents already cautious about autonomous transport trials in their neighbourhood.

The incident underscores ongoing safety challenges as Singapore expands its autonomous vehicle testing programme across residential districts. Driverless shuttle services have been introduced in several heartland areas as part of the government's push to modernise public transport and reduce reliance on human drivers.

Authorities have not yet released a detailed statement regarding the cause of the near-collision or whether the shuttle's autonomous systems functioned as intended. The incident comes amid broader debate in Singapore about the readiness of self-driving technology to navigate complex urban environments where pedestrians, particularly vulnerable road users such as children, interact with vehicular traffic.

The encounter has prompted calls from residents and safety advocates for stricter oversight of autonomous vehicle operations in populated areas, with some questioning whether current testing protocols adequately account for unexpected scenarios involving pedestrians.