By KENJI ODA/ Staff Writer
October 30, 2023 at 15:28 JST
Japan’s first driverless public transit service was launched in May in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture. (Keiko Nagai)
FUKUI--Japan’s first driverless public transit service has been suspended after its first accident on Oct. 29 in Fukui Prefecture, setting back the country’s push for autonomous transportation.
A self-driving electric vehicle carrying four passengers had a minor collision with a parked, riderless bicycle in Eiheiji at around 10:25 a.m., but none of the passengers were injured, police said.
The service operator is investigating why the seven-seater’s safety system failed to stop the driverless vehicle before it collided with the bike’s rear wheel.
The operator said the driverless public transit service will be suspended until new safety measures are implemented, which is not expected to happen anytime soon.
In May, a public-private partnership launched the Level 4 driving automation service, in which the vehicle travels along fixed routes under specific conditions.
The shuttle service was available on a 2-kilometer route on weekends and holidays.
The government plans to launch similar services in 50 areas nationwide by 2025 and in more than 100 areas by 2027 to boost the country’s local public transportation network.
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