Roadmap to prepare Singapore’s public transport workers for autonomous vehicles

A SKILLS and training roadmap is being developed to prepare public transport workers for the eventual deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs), said Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance Chee Hong Tat in Parliament on Tuesday (7 Feb).

The Ministry of Transport is working with the National Transport Workers’ Union and public transport operators on this, identifying emerging skills and new job roles arising from the deployment of autonomous technologies, he added.

But he noted that “it will take some time” for AVs to be deployed at a large scale, with this depending on factors such as their ability to meet safety standards and operational requirements.

He was responding to Member of Parliament Melvin Yong (Radin Mas SMC), who had asked for an update on AV development, particularly for public transport.

As of 27 Jan, 43 AVs have passed the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) Milestone 1 test, and one has passed its Milestone 2 test, said Chee. Vehicles which pass the latter can be trialled on public roads within one-north and other selected areas, with a safety operator.

Trials here have helped to develop an understanding of the operational requirements for the safe deployment of AVs – and also showed that AV capabilities need to be “further developed for local operating conditions, particularly in public transport” before large-scale deployment, said Chee.

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“These include the perception and sensing capabilities of AVs under complex scenarios in our urban environment and during inclement weather conditions,” he added. “AV companies would therefore have to undertake further research and development, and trials. LTA will continue to facilitate these efforts.”