BERLIN (dpa-AFX): Driverless taxis and shuttle buses in dense urban traffic? Berlin's Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) is advocating for the swiftest possible deployment of fully autonomous vehicles that no longer require a human at the wheel. 'For me, autonomous mobility is the gamechanger of the mobility transition,' Bonde stated. Such autonomous vehicles should be deployed in Berlin as quickly as possible. 'And I believe we are not talking about a long-term perspective now, but rather a short-term one.'
According to the TÜV Association, a Level 4 autonomous vehicle recently completed test drives under realistic conditions for the first time. This level refers to vehicles capable of driving autonomously within defined areas under specific operating conditions: even without a driver behind the wheel. TÜV President Dirk Stenkamp said: 'The Berlin real-world drive shows that autonomous driving is technically possible even in complex urban traffic.'
Autonomous Vehicles Require TÜV Approval
Verification drives are the prerequisite for obtaining specific permits. In Berlin, TÜV initially tested a method to safely evaluate the behavior of an autonomous vehicle within a specific environment.
The technology could 'revolutionize' public transport, said Transport Senator Bonde. Autonomous vehicles facilitate the transition from private cars to on-demand shuttle services. Bonde noted that autonomous driving is also crucial for ensuring the future of public transport in Germany due to demographic challenges and looming personnel shortages.
According to TÜV, no such autonomous vehicle (Level 4) has been approved for public roads in Germany to date. Numerous pilot projects and tests are currently underway./mow/DP/men
