Dubai expands deployment of driverless shuttle buses

This Saturday, driverless cars were put into trial operation in Dubai's Business Bay, as the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) prepares to expand the deployment of driverless cars. Ahmed Bahrozyan , CEO of the RTA Licensing Authority and Chairman of the Smart Car Committee , said that the deployment of driverless cars is being considered in subway stations, shopping malls and tourist attractions.

Bakhrozia confirmed that RTA is formulating laws and regulations to facilitate the introduction of smart mobility technology into Dubai. He also said: "The pilot is only part of the plan. RTA will test driverless technology according to Dubai's climatic conditions, operate driverless cars, spread the concept of driverless cars to community members, and let citizens understand the smart car strategy of the Dubai government. By 2030, 25% of the total mobile journeys will be completed by various driverless vehicles." Bakhrozia also said that RTA will obtain feedback through questionnaires to evaluate users' satisfaction with driverless cars.

From September 1 to October 5, driverless cars were put into trial operation on Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, transporting visitors from parking lots to restaurants, hotels and landmarks, with a satisfaction rate of 95%. Last year, driverless cars were put into trial operation at the Dubai World Trade Center during Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar), with a satisfaction rate of 92%.

RTA also surveyed public transport passengers, car drivers, tourists and citizens, and found that 96% of the respondents were satisfied with the safety of driverless cars; 95% of people were interested in using driverless cars as public transport; 69% of the respondents were not worried about the lack of a drive control system. A survey report released by Boston Consulting Group last year showed that 70% of the respondents in the United Arab Emirates were willing to try driverless cars. Last month, Dubai's transportation app Careem publicly stated that it would begin testing driverless electric capsules in 2017.

The roads in the Gulf region are not complete. Although the region has invested huge amounts of money in safety, a report released by the World Health Organization shows that 12.7 people die in traffic accidents per 100,000 people in the United Arab Emirates, 30.4 in Oman, 24.8 in Saudi Arabia, 16.5 in Kuwait, 14 in Egypt, and 13.2 in Qatar.

In order to reduce the death rate, the United Arab Emirates is very interested in driverless technology. The United Arab Emirates has invested in the Dubai Future Accelerator (DFA) to find breakthrough technologies, including driverless cars and 3D printing technology.

Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Accelerator, said that more and more companies around the world are investing in driverless technology, and Dubai hopes to become a leader. He believes that in the next five years, driverless technology may see a big leap in hardware and software, and can be used in taxis, personal cars, car sharing, trucks, cargo transportation, public transportation, etc. He also said: "Reports have confirmed that if equipped with a fleet of self-driving taxis, with the current size of Dubai city, the number of cars can be reduced by 90% to meet all travel needs."

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.