Driverless Taxi: The Future of Thai Public Transportation

Abstract

Technologies become part of our life. They assist and facilitate us in countless ways, including freeing drivers from driving duty and enhancing road safety. Autonomous vehicles (Avs) become a trend in many countries around the world. For Thailand, drivers use driving assistance features which are often incorporate with Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as Lane Keeping Assist or Adaptive Cruise Control for several years, and those cars can be registered under the Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 (1979). As technology advances, there will be no drivers present physically at the wheel, and the vehicles will be control by programs and operators in control center. In other countries such as the USA, Korea and Japan, governments enact laws to legitimize the operation of driverless taxis, and the service can help improve road safety, tackle aging society problem and facilitate people in areas lacking of available public transport. However, this type of cars cannot be registered under the Thai existing law since they are totally controlled by program, and there is no driver behind the wheel. Thus, there should be the amendment of the Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 (1979), and it is crucial to examine laws and regulations of other countries such as the USA (some states), Korea and Japan where driverless taxi services have proven successful. The amendment should allow the registration of fullyautomated vehicles and the operation of Robotaxi company. Autonomous vehicles must be equipped with accessories such as sensors, navigation system, cyber security system and driving assistance. Moreover, it should specify that the operator must oversee only one vehicle per time, and the operator must acquire public license while the company need to report to the Department of Land Transport when there is an accident occur and submit the operation plan every year.