Media: Lianhe Zaobao
Singapore's taxi services have been criticized for many years for reckless driving, poor attitudes, taking longer routes, and charging fares higher than those calculated by the fare meter. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated autonomous taxis in many countries are gradually becoming a reality. Riding in Waymo in San Francisco and Phoenix has become a trending topic on social media.
Waymo started as Google's self-driving car project in 2009, originating from early Google Street View experiments. After extensive development, the vehicles are equipped with a comprehensive set of sensors, including radar, multiple cameras, and custom-designed lidar systems, providing a 360-degree view. These hardware components, combined with Google's artificial intelligence and deep learning technology, have led to significant advancements in pedestrian detection and overall driving safety. Waymo later launched fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Phoenix, Arizona, initially for a group of "early adopters" and eventually opened to the public, becoming the world's first commercial autonomous taxi service. This year, it expanded to new cities, including Los Angeles and Austin.
Recent reports indicate that Waymo's autonomous vehicles have a lower accident rate than human drivers, providing a boost to urban traffic safety and reliability. According to passenger feedback, aside from slightly slower speeds and the inability to access highways, the experience of using autonomous taxis is generally comparable to, if not better than, ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft. For instance, passenger names are displayed on the vehicle's roof to prevent getting into the wrong car. Passengers can also control the in-car music or air conditioning temperature themselves and do not have to engage in forced conversation with drivers. Additionally, fares are similar to those of other ride-hailing services, making autonomous taxis like Waymo very popular among passengers.
Waymo is not the only player in the market. Its competitor, Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, began offering services in 2022 but suspended operations after several incidents, resuming in May of this year. Elon Musk has also announced plans to enter the market on August 8, likely sparking renewed interest. According to market research firm Guidehouse Insights, in last year's ranking of industry leadership in autonomous driving systems, Israeli company Mobileye ranked first, followed by Waymo, with Baidu and Cruise in third and fourth places, respectively.
Interestingly, Singapore was once a leader in the popularization of autonomous taxis. As early as August 2016, the world's first autonomous taxis were officially launched in Singapore, developed by the startup nuTonomy. After passing related tests at a local obstacle training ground, they received permission to conduct road tests in commercial and tech park areas. The company was later acquired by Motional, but significant development stalled. In recent years, they have partnered with Lyft in the U.S., so it remains to be seen whether they can make a comeback.
Of course, safety and driver unemployment are the primary concerns. In Singapore, the government has a three-tiered testing system. First, safety demonstrations must be completed at the Center of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles at Nanyang Technological University. Then, test drives can be conducted in designated areas such as one-north, but a safety driver must be present in the vehicle. The next level includes road testing in residential areas, also requiring a safety driver. At the highest level, autonomous vehicles can be partially controlled by a safety driver or operate completely without one for road testing, with stringent oversight.
With Singapore already offering paid autonomous bus services, autonomous taxis are an unstoppable trend. The issue of driver unemployment has become a concern in many countries. Technological and urban development inevitably causes growing pains, similar to how horse-drawn carriage drivers had to transition to driving cars over a century ago, and typesetters had to adapt. In recent years, the government has invested heavily in retraining programs and technology skills learning subsidies, providing opportunities for re-education. Drivers and the general public should proactively prepare and enhance their skills to adapt to the changes brought about by technology.
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