Driverless buses will appear on some 'quiet' roads in Singapore from 2022 as part of plans to improve mobility in the land-scarce city-state, its transport minister has announced.

Singapore has so far avoided the massive traffic jams that choke other Asian cities like Manila and Jakarta by imposing road tolls, spending massively on public transport and becoming one of the world's most expensive places to own a car.

It now plans to embrace self-driving technology to further reduce reliance on cars and improve how people get around.

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Driverless buses (pictured) will appear on some roads in Singapore from 2022 as part of plans to improve mobility in the land-scarce city-state, its transport minister has announced

DRIVERLESS BUSES Driverless buses will appear on some roads in Singapore from 2022 as part of plans to improve mobility in the land-scarce city-state, its transport minister has announced. The buses will be deployed in three new suburban towns -Punggol, Tengah and the Jurong Innovation District. They will initially be deployed on less crowded roads during off-peak periods. Singapore is asking for input from industry and research institutions on what is needed to implement the project. Industry proposals to be invited after May 2018. Advertisement

Driverless buses will be deployed in three new suburban towns -Punggol, Tengah and the Jurong Innovation District.

These towns have been designed to accommodate the vehicles for the pilot project, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

They will initially be deployed on less crowded roads during off-peak periods.

'The autonomous vehicles will greatly enhance the accessibility and connectivity of our public transport system, particularly for the elderly families with young children and the less mobile,' he said at the launch of a test centre for self-driving vehicles.

'More importantly, we can gain further insights into how we can develop new towns or refurbish existing ones for the safe mass deployment of autonomous vehicles.'

Mr Khaw said the technology will help Singapore 'alleviate its tight land and manpower limits that currently constrain our land transport system' and that he hopes the city-state can become a key global player in the sector.

Singapore officials are asking for input from industry and research institutions on what is needed to implement the project.

Driverless buses will be deployed in three new suburban towns -Punggol, Tengah and the Jurong Innovation District. These towns have been designed to accommodate the vehicles for the pilot project, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan

Around ten local and foreign companies are currently in Singapore to test their driverless vehicle technology. An autonomous taxi turns at an intersection during a test drive in Singapore in 2016

Industry proposals to be invited after May 2018, he said.

Around ten local and foreign companies are currently in Singapore to test their driverless vehicle technology, Mr Khaw said.

WHY DOES SINGAPORE WANT DRIVERLESS BUSES? The country has several reasons for beginning the bus trial, including: - Prompting residents to use more shared vehicles and public transport - Improve road safety - Reduce vehicle congestion - Alleviate pollution - Address manpower challenges Advertisement

Some industry players believe autonomous vehicles can ply highways and busy city streets in Singapore 'without any form of human intervention' in ten years' time, he added.

Singaporean travel officials believe we will soon see a shift from owning vehicles, to paying for different mobility services tailored to different types of journeys.

'There is going to be a significant shift in the public mindset from one of ownership of transport assets - which is the mindset today - to one of procurement of transport services as and when you need them', said the Ministry of Transport's top official, Mr Pang King Keong.

Earlier this year, he revealed that he is in talks with companies to start trials on flying taxis.

These futuristic vehicles are part of a drive to expand the range of urban mobility options, and Singapore plans to have them ready by 2030.