Inclusive Features for AV Shuttle Services

Oral Reply by Senior Minister of State for Transport, Ms Sun Xueling 

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Acting Minister for Transport what accessibility and inclusion features will be incorporated into autonomous shuttle services to support wheelchair users, users who are not proficient in English, families with strollers, blind users and deaf persons.

Reply by Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling:

1.       In the initial pilot phase of the deployment, a safety operator, who will be on board the AV shuttle, can assist passengers. Ambassadors will also be on the ground to assist with boarding, alighting, and journey planning. Only larger AVs like the 8-seater Robobus autonomous shuttle will be able to accommodate folded wheelchairs and strollers at the moment, but in time there will be more of such vehicles. 

2.     Safety is our key priority. We will work with the AV operators to consider the accessibility and inclusivity of AV rides for commuters with different mobility needs.