World · Singapore Bureau
Singapore shelves driverless bus trial on public routes, pivots to staff shuttles
The Land Transport Authority has postponed plans to test autonomous buses on two public SBST routes, opting instead for a more gradual approach with smaller-scale trials. The shift signals a more cautious deployment strategy for driverless technology on Singapore's bus network.
LSN Singapore ·
Singapore's push to deploy autonomous buses on public routes has been scaled back, with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) cancelling a planned trial on two SBST bus services. Instead, authorities plan to evaluate driverless technology through limited-scope trials before moving to more complex public transportation scenarios.
The revised approach reflects a preference for incremental testing of autonomous buses in controlled environments. The LTA is now considering pilot programmes using employee shuttle services operated by government agencies or private firms, which present simpler operational challenges compared to high-capacity public bus routes.
Employee shuttles typically operate on fixed routes with predictable passenger loads and fewer interaction points with general traffic, making them suitable for initial autonomous vehicle testing. This intermediate step would allow authorities to gather operational data and address technical challenges before deploying driverless buses to the public transport network.
The decision underscores Singapore's methodical approach to integrating autonomous vehicle technology into its transport ecosystem. While the city-state remains committed to exploring driverless solutions as part of its smart transport goals, safety and reliability considerations are driving a phased implementation strategy rather than a rapid rollout.