No driver needed? A perspective from standards, laws and regulations on autonomous transit buses

ABSTRACT:

Autonomous driving is a promising technology for public transportation to solve two main challenges: The driver shortage and the reduction of environmental impact. This contribution investigates if already existing requirements in standards, laws, regulations and guidelines for accessibility, safety, security and bus drivers’ tasks of transit buses in Europe and Germany can also be complied to with an autonomous transit bus or if the requirements need an adaption. 54 impactful requirements on autonomous transit buses have been found and their impact and opening design space will be discussed.