Anyang City to Conduct 'Autonomous Driving Pilot Operation' in Two Sections Next Year

Route Map of Anyang City Autonomous Public Transportation Service

Anyang City in Gyeonggi Province will conduct autonomous driving pilot operations on two sections next year.

Anyang City recently announced on the 1st that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designated two sections within the city as 'Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Operation Zones,' where special exceptions for passenger and freight transportation and safety standards are granted for autonomous vehicle research and demonstration.

The autonomous vehicle pilot operation zones include two routes: 3.4 km from Dongan District Office (Cultural Street) to Bisan Sports Park, and 7.2 km covering Anyang Station to Beomgye Station to Indeokwon Station.

Starting from March next year, Anyang City plans to promote autonomous bus experience and education for six months, and then provide official autonomous public transportation services from August of the same year. In particular, they have enhanced pedestrian object recognition and optimized it using self-developed cameras and deep learning technology to ensure the safety of autonomous driving.

Earlier in August, Anyang City submitted the selection of pilot operation zones and operation plans to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and underwent evaluations including on-site inspections and autonomous bus demonstrations in October.

Mayor Choi Dae-ho of Anyang said, "We are promoting the commercialization of autonomous public transportation services through cooperation with transportation companies for the first time in Korea," adding, "Autonomous driving will be a new alternative to respond to worsening public transportation service conditions such as bus route reductions and drivers' reluctance to operate at night."

On the 29th of last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport additionally designated 15 autonomous vehicle pilot operation zones in 12 cities and provinces, including the two routes in Anyang City. Currently, there are 34 pilot operation zones across 17 cities and provinces nationwide, including Incheon and Ulsan.