Turkey's Karsan self-driving bus hit by a tram in Sweden on first day of service
Incident Overview and Investigation
Details of the Collision
May 26 (Reuters) - A self-driving bus made by Turkey's Karsan was struck from behind by a tram in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Monday, just an hour after it began carrying paying passengers, the public transport organiser said.
"The bus braked and was hit by the tram," said Patrik Chi, spokesperson at Vasttrafik, a company owned by the regional public transport authority.
Impact and Immediate Response
The collision, which caused no injuries according to Chi, raises questions about the integration of autonomous vehicles in urban traffic, just as Gothenburg has started a year-long trial of autonomous public transport using Karsan's e-ATAK bus.
Statements from Involved Parties
Karsan's Official Response
Karsan said in a statement on Tuesday the full details of the incident were being evaluated.
"Based on initial findings, the incident appears to be a traffic-related event occurring within the flow of urban traffic, rather than an issue related to the autonomous driving system," Karsan said.
Public and Media Reaction
Footage on public broadcaster SVT's website showed the damage to the bus, and a banner on its rear reading: "Keep distance! The bus may brake sharply."
Safety Measures and Ongoing Investigation
Role of the Safety Driver
Chi said the circumstances of the collision needed to be investigated, adding there was a safety driver on board the bus, who was ready to take control if needed.
Next Steps in the Investigation
(Reporting by Jesus CaleroEditing by Bernadette Baum and Barbara Lewis)
