SINGAPORE: When bus driver Muhammad Naz Farihin travelled on an autonomous vehicle as part of a trial in Punggol this year, he was surprised by how closely it resembled a ride with a human driver.“I was actually very impressed, if you were to close your eyes and mind your own business, have a conversation, you won’t actually realise the vehicle was autonomous,” said the 29-year-old.The driver from private bus company A&S Transit said the vehicle responded quickly and decisively to other road users, pedestrians and obstacles.“The best way to describe this is that they are as good as a (probation) plate driver making judgments on the roads. They’re learning and preparing,” he said.
But while the technology impressed him, Mr Naz is not worried that autonomous vehicles will replace his job any time soon.In his seven years on the road, he has encountered too many situations where a human touch was essential, and he remains convinced that technology cannot yet replace it.“As a bus captain, you are more customer-oriented; you have to address a wide diversity of passengers you serve, be it the elderly, the young, or those that require special assistance,” he said.“This is something a driverless vehicle will not be able to handle.”Mr Naz is not alone in wondering how quickly autonomous vehicle (AV) technology can become part of everyday life in Singapore.
