Autonomous driving bus will be operated on Sejong BRT route from June

The autonomous driving buses that citizens can use with charge will be operated on the Sejong BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) route from June.

The Metropolitan Transport Commission of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on April 20 the types of new transport vehicles that can be operated on the BRT lane.

The vehicles that can access to BRT lane are divided into 'general-type vehicles' used in the city bus transportation business and 'new transport vehicles' with new technology.

Among them, the type of new transport vehicles was specifically defined through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's announcement this time.

The new transport vehicles are the ones for research and development, supported by central administrative agencies or local governments for the purpose of technical improvement related to operation compared to general-type vehicles.

It also includes autonomous driving vehicles for public transportation purposes that have been granted temporary permission by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to operate for testing and research purposes.

In addition, business vehicles with technical improvements related to the operation and technical improvements for testing and research purposes are also classified as new transport vehicles.

The bus transit system (BRT) is operated by specific vehicles on exclusive driving lanes and has excellent conditions for autonomous driving implementation due to low interference such as general passenger cars.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has designated the Chungcheong and Sejong autonomous vehicle pilot districts including BRT in the process of promoting policies as well as research and development related to autonomous driving vehicles, and also held demonstrations of autonomous driving buses produced by national research and development on the Sejong BRT route.

As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced autonomous driving vehicles for business as well as R&D as new transport vehicles, commercialization services beyond the R&D stage are expected to be introduced and expanded in the future.

Typically, on the Sejong BRT route, an autonomous driving bus service will be launched for citizens in June, using advanced autonomous driving technology.

An official of the Metropolitan Transport Commission said, "We will actively support related local governments to proactively research, develop and commercialize various new technologies such as autonomous driving on BRT routes outside Sejong City."

Reported by Smart City Today