Wheels now turning on Redlands Coast driverless bus trial

The RACQ Smart Shuttle hit the streets of Karragarra Island on Redlands Coast today, as part of a Queensland-first on-road trial.

The driverless bus, a joint initiative between RACQ and Redland City Council with the support of Council of Mayors SEQ, commenced timetabled services on the island, and residents and visitors were welcomed to step onboard for free.

RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said the Club was proud to introduce Queenslanders to the next generation of motoring.

“This trial will give us greater understanding of autonomous vehicles, their suitability to Australian driving conditions and how they interact with other road users,” Dr Michael said.

Dr Rebecca Michael, RACQ, Redland City Mayor Karen Williams and Greg Giraud, EasyMile

“The bus is the first ever form of public transport for the Karragarra Island community, which has some incredibly unique transport challenges that present a need for innovative solutions like this,” Cr Williams said.

“There’s a strong reliance on private vehicles, and the low traffic and low speed environment on the island makes it the perfect place to host this innovative trial.

“This is all about testing the technology to see if it can then be deployed to other areas, including our other residential islands.

“For me this journey began in 2017 when I got to experience this technology when in Singapore with the Council of Mayors (SEQ) and I knew then that this innovation could make a real difference to our island communities.

“We’re proud to be hosting this trial right here on our doorstep and encourage everyone to jump onboard and join us in making history.”

“It’s a critical step in the broader process of integrating this technology more permanently on our roads in future, but it’s equally as important that it’s trusted by Queenslanders.”

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the bus was a step forward for the region as much as it was for the future of motoring.