LTA suspends ComfortDelGro autonomous vehicle U-turn testing in Punggol after near-miss
The Land Transport Authority ordered ComfortDelGro to halt U-turn trials for its autonomous vehicles at a Punggol junction following a near-collision captured on dash-cam footage.
Singapore – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has instructed ComfortDelGro (CDG) to suspend testing of U-turns for its autonomous vehicles at a traffic junction in Punggol after a near-collision was recorded on Nov. 5. The incident, shown in a dash-cam video posted on Facebook on Nov. 8, showed a CDG AV stopped behind the stop line before turning into the path of an oncoming vehicle, prompting both vehicles to slow down.
LTA said it is investigating the event and has asked CDG to pause U-turn testing at the junction as a precaution. The testing was being conducted on a route intended for CDG’s enhanced on-demand service, which is separate from its existing shuttle route.
Michael Huang, head of Singapore point-to-point mobility business at Zig by ComfortDelGro, said the company is reviewing the incident with its autonomous-driving technology partner and LTA, adding that safety is a priority and the circumstances will be thoroughly assessed.
The suspension follows a separate incident on the same day in which a Grab autonomous vehicle nearly struck a pedestrian while making a left turn in Punggol, leading LTA to pause testing at certain junctions for Grab as well.