‘Sejong Terminal↔Banseok Station’ Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zone Designated

Provided by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The section from Sejong Terminal to Banseok Station has been designated as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone.

Daejeon City announced on the 29th that the Daejeon~Sejong BRT (9.8 km) section was finally designated as an autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, jointly applied for by three local governments in the Chungcheong region: Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungbuk.

The city expects to establish a super-regional cooperation system in the Chungcheong area and promote the development of the local autonomous driving industry by using the designation of the pilot operation zone as a stepping stone.

The autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone allows demonstration of paid services using autonomous vehicles free from various legal regulations, according to the "Act on the Promotion and Support of Commercialization of Autonomous Vehicles" enacted in May 2020.

For example, in this zone, communication base stations, traffic signals, road signs, etc., can be constructed and managed by private entities rather than road management authorities, and special exceptions apply to safety standards such as the front windshield, wipers, driver's seat, and seat belts of autonomous vehicles.

Also, unlike the usual prohibition of paid transportation by private vehicles, autonomous vehicles that are not commercial vehicles can provide paid passenger transportation services or rentals within the pilot operation zone.

The city plans to operate the autonomous vehicle pilot operation zone starting next year by utilizing Sejong's autonomous driving infrastructure (control center, research demonstration support facilities, autonomous vehicles, etc.) that has been in operation since January, while discovering and promoting corporate support projects to establish a foundation for fostering the autonomous driving industry.

Jung Jae-yong, Director of the Strategic Business Promotion Office of the city, said, "With the designation of the pilot operation zone, we will expand Daejeon's status as a science special city to the field of autonomous driving."