Japan has suspended its first autonomous vehicle pilot project following a minor accident with a parked bicycle, according to officials.
Japan has backtracked on its push towards self-driving vehicles after one hit a parked bicycle.
The country approved a pilot project last year, which allowed autonomous vehicles to drive on specific public roads. As part of this project, a service of driverless bus-like vehicles – similar to electric golf carts – began operating in Eiheiji in the Fukui prefecture in May.
However, on Sunday one of these vehicles hit a bicycle that was parked on a roadside, said local official Norifumi Hiramoto. Although none of the vehicle’s four passengers were injured, officials decided to put the project on pause until its safety could be reassessed.
“We are suspending the operation until the cause of the incident becomes clear,” Hiramoto said.
The vehicles drive at a maximum speed of 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) per hour and are equipped with sensors and radars designed to help them avoid obstacles.
The suspension comes just days after California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended Cruise’s licence to deploy driverless vehicles on the streets of San Francisco due to safety concerns.
In the UK, a Thatcham Research 2022 survey found that 73 per cent of UK motorists recognise the potential benefits of emerging automated driving technology. The majority identified improved safety as the main benefit of the technology (21 per cent), followed by improving mobility for elderly and disabled people (14 per cent) and reducing pollution (8 per cent).
In January, the Department for Transport published traffic projections for England and Wales, which showed that delays may rise by up to 85 per cent from 2025 to 2060 once self-driving vehicles reach the mainstream.
Japan has stated its goal to allow Level 4 vehicles in 50 locations within three years.
