JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, Dubai will start testing driverless taxis on the city's streets at the end of this year, to prepare autonomous vehicles for a different driving experience.
According to The National News March 31, about 10 automated taxis, supplied by US company Cruise, will begin carrying passengers by the end of 2023.
The Dubai Road and Transport Authority will complete rigorous testing ahead of the launch to ensure taxis are ready for the busy driving styles of some of the drivers in the United Arab Emirates.
"As we get closer to launch, we will do publicity so people recognize these cars," said Ahmed Bahrozyan, chief executive of the Public Transport Agency at RTA.
"They won't ask other drivers to change their habits altogether, or for us to invest in new infrastructure."
"A lot of testing will be carried out and an on-road testing program will begin with Cruise later this year. The technology has to match the unique driving style of each city."
Equipped with a laser detection system, range to detect distance from objects and with 100 sensors integrated into each vehicle, this taxi will be able to respond to other drivers safely.
Inside, seats face each other and the cab can accommodate up to six people, with ample space for luggage. It is hoped that the wider adoption of autonomous vehicles will greatly reduce road accidents.
To note, around 4,000 units of driverless taxis can operate in Dubai by 2030.
"This is a great opportunity to reduce accidents and make mobility more affordable, as the savings gained from not having a driver can be passed on to customers," said Bahrozyan.
"They will improve road safety, as 90 per cent of accidents are caused by human error with people falling asleep at the wheel or on their phones."
Regulations in Dubai will change to accommodate driverless cars, to allow manufacturers to sell their own autonomous vehicles to the public in the future, Bahrozyan added. Similar experiments have taken place in Abu Dhabi
A fleet of ride-sharing vehicles as part of the TXAI project is available for the community to test on Yas Island in December. Meanwhile, the topic of self-driving cars was the main focus of the World Government Summit, during a session on policy and innovation in the future of the movement.
As technology develops, so do the regulations needed to create a safe and legal environment for all road users.
Jeff Bleich, chief legal officer of Cruise, the majority-owned autonomous vehicle subsidiary of General Motors, said Dubai will be the company's first international partner to innovate new city systems, developing the future of intelligent mobility.
"This kind of development and smart devices will become important for work systems around the world, all governments must involve this positive transformation," he said. he said.
"We at Cruise's Origin AV have been working on solutions to several challenges such as the absence of a visible steering wheel or brakes, which currently do not meet the standards required of RTA on vehicles."
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