Incident at Hong Kong airport comes as more unmanned vehicles are taking part in trials on city roads
Who would have thought that more than 60 driverless vehicles, including buses, had been running around Hong Kong International Airport night and day since last year. This is revealed in details that emerged after two unmanned buses collided in a restricted area at Chek Lap Kok. No one was hurt because there were neither drivers nor passengers. But it was potentially serious because the buses shuttle staff around the airport, and unmanned vehicles are taking part in trials on our public roads. The public needs to acknowledge the risk of such incidents.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set the right tone with a pledge to find the cause of the collision and a reassurance to residents that authorities will closely supervise companies testing driverless technologies. That is good to hear.
Autonomous vehicles are a global trend. To remain competitive, Hong Kong has to keep up with developments without compromising safety. The ultimate goal must be to eliminate driver errors or faults. Lee noted driverless transport was a trend worldwide and autonomous vehicles had been used in the restricted area of the airport for nearly seven years.
