Thirty-two of Japan's 47 prefectures, or 68 percent, are considering the introduction of Level 4 self-driving buses -- vehicles fully automated under certain conditions -- a Kyodo News survey showed, reflecting growing expectations for the new technology as a way to tackle the worsening driver shortage.
The number rose to 36 prefectures when asked if they plan to experiment with or use less autonomous Level 2 buses, which allow human drivers to take their hands off the wheel and get assistance in braking and acceleration.
Japan revised its road traffic law in last April, paving the way for Level 4 driverless vehicles to run on public roads. Preparations are under way for such buses to transport people when Osaka hosts the 2025 World Exposition.
Of the 32 prefectures that are positive about the use of Level 4 buses, Fukui and Fukuoka said decisions have already been made to introduce them for public transportation, while 30 said such plans are "under consideration." The remaining 15 had no such plans.
For those planning the introduction, it will be limited to some areas within a prefecture rather than extending across the entire region.
The survey was conducted between November and December about Level 2 or higher autonomous driving buses. Level 5 means fully autonomous.
A total of 39 prefectures said they believe Level 4 autonomous buses are necessary, citing the need to cope with labor shortages and make transportation accessible to people in remote mountainous areas, among other reasons.
Driver shortages are a pressing issue for the transport sector, which will likely be exacerbated by the planned imposition of a cap on work hours for drivers starting in April.
According to Teikoku Databank, 98 of the 127 private bus operators surveyed in Japan either reduced or abolished some routes in 2023 due to difficulties securing drivers.
The credit research firm pointed to the possibility that even routes in city areas, where the number of users is relatively high, may also be streamlined.
While expectations are high for self-driving buses on public roads, safety concerns remain. In the survey, many prefectures underscored the need to ensure safety and profitability.
A Level 4 autonomous bus transportation service began in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture, in last May. However, a minor collision with a bicycle in October led to the service being suspended.
During a trial run in southwestern Japan's Fukuoka in November, a Level 2 bus had a minor collision with a taxi. No one was injured.
There are also instances in which car-mounted cameras identify rain and snow as obstacles, forcing the vehicles to stop.
Public acceptance is another challenge. In an MM Research Institute survey targeting 3,000 people, 40 percent cited safety worries as demerits of driverless vehicles.
Takashi Hikasa, an expert in autonomous driving, said public understanding and cooperation are critical for introducing self-driving buses.
With self-driving cars, "we can expect the number of accidents caused by human errors to fall. But there are also concerns that they may make basic mistakes that humans would not make," said Hikasa, a lecturer at Tama University.
Related coverage:
Next-gen EVs, flying cars on display at rebranded Tokyo auto show
Next-gen EVs from SUV to minicar in spotlight at Japan mobility show
Honda, GM driverless taxi JV to be operational in 2026 in Tokyo
