For the first time, a self-driving bus is driving on public roads in the Netherlands. Passengers can use it between several metro stations in Rotterdam. The first ride was on Friday, and from August 1st, everyone can take the bus.
Between Friday, July 11th, and August 1st, some tests will be done first. After that, all passengers can use the self-driving bus. It is a collaboration between, among others, transport company RET, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and the municipality of Rotterdam.
The ride takes about ten minutes and contains few complicated traffic situations, the initiators explain. The route is therefore suitable for automatically driving buses. There is still a driver in the bus who can intervene and operate the vehicle manually if necessary.
“Driving with automatically driving buses is an important step to gain experience with self-driving systems,” RET explains. According to the initiators, it will still take a few years before self-driving vehicles can drive on roads where other vehicles also drive. No other buses drive on this route. “For the time being, it will serve as a supplement to public transport.”
In order to send this type of bus on the road independently in the long term, the technology still needs to be developed further. This requires adapted laws and regulations.
According to RET, it is therefore not yet appropriate to have the bus drive without a driver on board. This would also require new permission from the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW). After extensive tests, the service has given approval to drive these buses on public roads.
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