Speech by Mr Jeffrey Siow, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance at the Autonomous Shuttle Roadshow at Punggol Digital District

1.     Good morning 

a.     I am very happy to be here in the Punggol Digital District. 

b.     First of all, I want to thank DPM Gan for inviting me here today to Punggol It has been a while since we parted ways in Choa Chu Kang and I have been waiting for him for a long time to invite me back so here I am bearing gifts. I also want to thank the other Advisers: SMS Janil who is an alumni of MOT, SMS Sun Xueling who is now currently at MOT with me and Ms Yeo Wan Ling who is the Adviser here but also our most important partner taking care of our transport workers. Thank you very much for inviting me here. 

New technology will improve transport 

2.     Today we are celebrating technology. Technology in transport moves in leaps and bounds. 

3.     To give you an example, 10 years ago, most taxis were street-hail.  

a.     You’d have to go to the taxi stand or roadside, and try your best to flag one down.  

b.     Can book on the phone, but on rainy days or Friday nights, no chance. 

4.     Then came ride-hail apps and private hire cars. 

a.     Initially people were concerned about the new technology and whether it is safe.  

5.      The Government worked with the unions to regulate the industry. 

a.     Now, nobody thinks twice about using a ride-hail app at night (at least in Singapore) 

b.     Drivers also benefited  

c.     The transport system improved for everyone 

Autonomous Vehicles as the next disruption 

6.     Now, the next technological breakthrough is here 

a.     Autonomous vehicles, or AVs  

b.     We already started planning for AVs in 2013 

c.     Technology was not quite ready then 

d.     Now with cheaper sensors, big data, and AI, AVs finally have become a reality 

7.     Numbers of AVs are small globally, but growing fast 

a.     In the US, 1-2000 vehicles 

b.     In China, 2-3000 vehicles 

c.     AVs are being used in a range of settings – passenger cars, delivery trucks, cleaning vehicles 

d.     In Singapore, we have been running AVs for some time in NTU, in Changi Airport and our port  

8.     Now, AVs will add to our public transport network 

a.     In the immediate term, AVs will: 

i.     Complement our bus network  

ii.     With more feeder routes  

iii.     and more night services and more possibilities. 

b.     Everyone wants more bus services  

c.     But very difficult to recruit more bus drivers 

d.     So AVs will help us expand our public transport even more 

e.     Will benefit many Singaporeans 

f.     Seniors going to medical appointment 

g.     Young people coming home after a late night out 

h.     Parents who would rather spend more time interacting with your children than driving them to school. 

AVs in Punggol 

9.     I know that many of you are excited that we are starting our AV pilot here in Punggol 

a.     I was surprised by the strong support from Singaporeans  

b.     MOT did a recent survey:  

c.     More than 2/3 of those surveyed were supportive of the Government’s plans to roll out AVs in Singapore  

d.     In fact, quite a few people have written to me, asking me to bring AVs to their estates too  

10.    But we want to start in Punggol 

a.     Why? Punggol is special!

b.     The road infrastructure is ready  

c.     Because the travel patterns are stable 

d.     Because we have people who will support us, and I know I have them here. 

11.    Today I am going to unveil with Punggol residents our first batch of three AVs 

a.     We aim to bring in 10 AVs by the end of this year 

b.     Perhaps around 100-150 vehicles by the end of next year 

c.     Just to compare, we have 1 million vehicles in Singapore, including 70,000 taxis and PHVs combined.  

Ramping up safely and steadily 

12.    First stage is to test the AVs 

a.     The vehicles are going through rigorous testing with LTA over the next 12 months 

b.     Then you will see the AVs start plying the roads in Punggol, without passengers first so please be a bit patient 

c.     This is so that other road users – drivers, cyclists, pedestrians – get used to their presence.  

13.    Safety will be our top priority 

a.     In theory, AVs should be safer 

i.     AVs do not speed 

ii.    They do not drink drive 

iii.   They do not tailgate 

iv.    They do not road rage – at least, until they develop robots with emotions  

v.     AVs generally are more predictable than human drivers. 

b.     In the US and China, almost all of the accidents so far are because human driver crashed into the AV, not the other way round. 

14.    But these are statistics from abroad 

a.     When we test the AVs, we will test in a safe and controlled manner, collect data, with safety officers on board at all times, and improve the AVs as they use AI to understand how to function in Punggol’s environment 

15.    We also hope to get as much feedback from you 

a.      I hope to get as many people who want to try the AV to have the chance to do so because I want to get your feedback, tell us what we can do as we run this pilot here, how we can improve 

b.     Then later when we are more confident, when Punggol gives us its confidence, I will take that to Tengah too.  

Jobs  

16.    As we begin deployment, we have to start hiring Singaporeans 

a.     Already at the start of the pilot, we need safety officers and we are already hiring them as well.  

17.    I’m glad that Grab and CDG have already set up academies to persuade driver partners who are keen to take on new jobs like safety operators, remote operators, and fleet managers to do so.   

a.     Wan Ling, Xueling and I have been talking very closely with the drivers and unions 

b.     Don’t worry, we will still need human drivers for a long time yet 

c.     But if you think you want to try a new job in a new environment  

d.     Operators and NTUC will work with you to train you.  

Closing

18.    In closing, I want to thank the people who have put together this wonderful event – LTA and the operators 

a.     I rejoined MOT in May and first talked about AVs – seems long ago but only 4 months. 

b.     We have come a long way 

c.     I want to thank also my fellow members on the Steering Committee for AVs, who have been working closely with us to guide our AV rollout plans.  

d.     These include experts and business leaders from around the world, and our own government leaders too – Sim Ann, Poh Koon, Murali, Alvin, Jasmin 

e.     All of them have been a part of this project and given us invaluable advice which enabled us to get here. 

19.    Every generation of Singaporeans has built something new for the future 

a.     Today in Punggol, we are starting a new chapter in transport 

b.     Safer, smarter, more convenient public transport for all. 

20.    Finally – now is the moment we all have been waiting for! 

21.    A new era of AVs is upon us.  

22.    Without further ado, let us reveal Punggol’s first ever AV.