This photo shows a self-driving bus on a bus rapid transit (BRT) route passes near Government Complex-Sejong in the central administrative city of Sejong on Dec. 27, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Self-driving buses will be deployed on bus rapid transit (BRT) routes for the first time in South Korea.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday it has deployed BRT-exclusive autonomous buses connecting Osong Station in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province and the Sejong Express Intercity Bus Terminal in the central administrative city of Sejong.
The buses are capable of operating at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour (50 km/h in urban areas). They include an electric bus for 14 passengers and a non-electric bus for 15 passengers equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving technology.
Drivers take control of the vehicle only in emergency situations, including when the bus is abruptly cut off by another vehicle or faces an obstacle.
Safety agents will sit in a spare seat to manage the autonomous driving system and passengers.
Self-driving buses will be operated six times from Monday to Friday, between 12 and 4 p.m., stopping at eight BRT bus stops. The buses will come every 40 minutes.
The government plans to trial the buses for the next three months and receive feedback from passengers before commercializing the service.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
