Onlookers in awe as France launches driverless buses

THE world’s first driverless bus service began carrying passengers in the French city of Lyon this weekend.

Two electric minibuses with a capacity of 15 passengers each are now operating a 10-minute route with five stops in the city centre at an average speed of 10 kilometres (six miles) an hour.

The vehicles have been tested without passengers in other French cities and in Switzerland, and a trial is under way in Dubai, using a bus developed with the help of a French company.

The four-metre-long buses, costing about £170,000 each, attracted curious onlookers who took “selfies” beside the vehicles, which allow passengers to stand at the front and enjoy the journey from a “driver’s eye view”. Christophe Sapet, from the Navya company which designed the buses, said: “They’re equipped with a range of detectors that allow them to know exactly where they are and to detect everything happening around them and to manage it intelligently to avoid collisions.”

Nevertheless, the buses are not capable of manoeuvring around other traffic and the routes are near a tramway where other vehicles are not allowed.

“Neither the current technology nor the legislation allow this type of vehicle to operate in the midst of cars or other traffic,” said Jean-Pierre Farandou, of bus operators Keolis transport group.

Navya has taken about 30 orders for the vehicles and plans to develop larger buses able to carry 20 passengers.