17-member committee to drive roll-out of autonomous vehicles in Singapore
They will coordinate efforts across four workgroups, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on July 31.
SINGAPORE - A 17-member committee comprising representatives from the industry, academia, union s and the Government has been set up to guide Singapore's progressive roll-out of driverless vehicles.
Chaired by Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, the committee will look to ensure autonomous vehicles (AVs) are integrated safely into Singapore's land transport system, while creating job opportunities and improv ing connectivity for residents.
They will coordinate efforts across four workgroups , the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on July 31.
One workgroup will look at the near-term roll-out of AVs that takes into account r esidents' feedback. This is as autonomous shuttle s are slated to start ferrying passengers in Punggol by the end of 2025.
The second workgroup will consider t he regulations, liability and enforcement needed to ensure the safety and accountability of driverless technology.
Another workgroup will look at employment and industry matters, including nurturing local capabilities and creating jobs .
The fourth workgroup will oversee technology and safety so as to develop a robust cyber-security and data policy for AVs.
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Here are the members of the committee:
Industry representatives:
Mr Alex Hungate, president and chief operating officer at Grab, a technology company with ride-hailing and food delivery services.
Mr Cheng Siak Kian, managing director and group chief executive of transport operator ComfortDelGro .
Dr Heidi Ruth Wyle, founder, chairman and chief executive of Venti Technologies, a firm that develops AV technology for logistics purposes .
Dr Limbu Dilip Kumar, co-founder and chief operating officer of AV company Moovita.
Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, group chief executive and executive director at transport operator SMRT.
Mr George Ivanov, head of international policy and government affairs at American AV company Waymo .
Dr Tony Han, founder, chairman and chief executive of Chinese AV company WeRide.
Academia representatives:
Prof essor of control and mechatronics Marcelo H. Ang Jr from the National University of Singapore's school of mechanical engineering.
Professor of cities and transportation Zhao Jinhua of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Union representative:
Ms Yeo Wan Ling, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, adviser to the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Taxi Association, and executive secretary of the National Transport Workers Union.
Government representatives:
Mr Siow, who chairs the committee.
Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health.
Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law.
Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Minister of State for Transport and National Development.
Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry as well as National Development.
Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information as well as Education.
In June, Mr Siow revealed plans for autonomous shuttles to start ferrying passengers in Punggol by the end of 2025.
This will be done in steps, with the shuttles initially not carrying passengers until residents and road users are comfortable with them. Safety officers will be on board and will step in when needed, although this role will eventually be removed.
The adoption of driverless shuttles is seen as a means to improve public transport connectivity here, as it can give people more options while overcoming labour constraints facing some transport services.
In the short term, the autonomous shuttles are expected to provide short, fixed-route services to various points within Housing Board estates, supplementing regular public bus services, taxis and private-hire vehicles.
In the medium term, this could be widened to include introducing services constrained by labour today, such as night buses, which can be run more frequently with driverless vehicles, Mr Siow had said.
In July, a driverless shuttle bus service at integrated resort Resorts World Sentosa became the first in Singapore to be allowed to operate without any human personnel on board.
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