SINGAPORE, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will introduce its first driverless buses and shuttles in select areas from 2022 as part of the drive to provide smart solutions to ease the pressure on public transport.
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan made the announcement Wednesday at the inauguration of an autonomous vehicle (AV) test center.
Driverless buses and on-demand shuttles will be initially run on less crowded roads to complement normal public bus services.
People will be able to hail the autonomous shuttles via their mobile phones, which would be helpful for the elderly, families with young children, and the less mobile.
The plan is part of the efforts to develop smart urban mobility solutions using data and digital technologies to enhance public transport.
It is part of Singapore's Smart Nation initiative launched in 2014 to provide better services for citizens and businesses.
The Ministry of Transport said safety and accessibility will be the top priorities when implementing the AV plan.
The first localities to see the services will be Punggol District in the northeast, and Tengah and the Jurong Innovation District in the West Region.
