Autonomous driving in buses champions the focus of Minister of Transport Hermann
Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Green) has expressed interest in learning from South Korea's tests on autonomous driving without detours. This is part of the state's strategy to improve shared and public mobility services, focusing on reducing private car dependency.
Hermann is skeptical about widespread autonomous cars for individual traffic, preferring sustainable, shared mobility solutions over autonomous private car use. He believes that such a development might increase congestion, counteract environmental ambitions, and undermine public transport goals. Instead, Hermann advocates for AI and automation to support and enhance public and shared transport modes.
One example of this approach is the Fraunhofer IOSB in Karlsruhe, which is developing an AI-based forecast system to predict the availability of shared transport means. This system aims to enhance intermodal route suggestions and could potentially be rolled out across the entire Baden-Württemberg region.
The state also supports the electrification of public buses, aligning with wider European zero-emission vehicle goals. However, the direct mention of fully autonomous public transport vehicles in Baden-Württemberg is not detailed in the current sources.
Hermann also suggests that rural areas could be better served by autonomous buses due to a shortage of bus drivers. He has expressed concerns about too many empty trips with autonomous cars, which could potentially increase overall car traffic.
Despite these concerns, Hermann favors using autonomous technology for public transport. He made these comments in the SWR video podcast "Zur Sache intensiv".
References:
- sta
- dpa/lsw
- In an interview on the SWR video podcast "Zur Sache intensiv," Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Green) expressed interest in learning from South Korea's tests on autonomous driving, particularly for improving shared and public mobility services.
- Hermann is cautious about the widespread adoption of autonomous cars for individual traffic, preferring sustainable, shared mobility solutions over autonomous private car use, due to potential increases in congestion and counteraction of environmental objectives.
- The state's strategy includes the development of AI-based forecast systems, like the one at Fraunhofer IOSB in Karlsruhe, to improve intermodal route suggestions and public transportation functions across Baden-Württemberg.
- In response to potential bus driver shortages in rural areas, Hermann has suggested the possible deployment of autonomous buses as an alternative solution, while noting concerns about empty trips that could lead to increased overall car traffic.
