“Karragarra will be the first deployment of the RACQ Smart Shuttle, however we will be looking into the future to be able to deploy it in other locations to be able to see how it could address other transport needs across Queensland,” Ms Michael said. “This particular trial is the first stepping-off point for getting this sort of [operational] permit in Queensland, and it was important that we could do that in a location that was as safe as possible.” The island’s small size meant they could plan out a lot of its route in advance, and have the technology adapt to local conditions, she said. The driverless bus will travel a set 3.5km route on the island Credit:RACQ Although the technology being employed is cutting-edge, the bus will hardly be a white-knuckle thrill ride, with a top speed of just 20km/h.

However, that is by design, with the trial intended to both iron out any lingering issues with the technology as well as build people’s confidence and familiarity. Redland City mayor Karen Williams said the bus will make a big difference for people living on the island, and could allow them to change the way they travel. “I’ve been lobbied by Karragarra residents for many years in regards to being able to use golf buggies [to get around the island],” Cr Williams said. Karragarra is the smallest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands with a population of just 160. Credit:Rob Maccoll/ Redlands City Council “What a lot of people don’t understand about our islands is if you live on the islands you have to not only get to a transport node on the island, but then get where you’re going on the mainland.

Loading “It’s quite a burden for a lot of people, they have a car on their island and then a car on the mainland, they maintain two sets of registration, all that sort of thing.” The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is also watching the trial closely, with the RACQ keen to apply the technology to other areas of the region once the six month trial, which begins in November, is finished. Championing driverless technology seems a strange fit for a company founded as an automobile club, but Ms Michael said RACQ was getting ahead of the curve when it came to transport. “RACQ was born out of the last major transport disruption, when the car took over from the horse and cart,” she said.