ComfortDelGro to stop U-turn testing for AVs at Punggol junction after near miss; LTA investigating

During a test at a Punggol Field junction, a ComfortDelGro autonomous vehicle stopped behind the stop line before beginning a U-turn. The test was for a route designed for an enhanced on-demand service, not CDG’s existing shuttle route.

A dashcam video shows the AV turning into the path of an approaching vehicle. The two vehicles then slowed down, creating a near miss rather than a reported collision. The video was posted on Facebook on Nov 8, while the incident occurred on Nov 5.

LTA said it is investigating and directed CDG to pause U-turns at that junction as a precaution. CDG said it is reviewing the circumstances with its AV technology partner, Pony.ai, and LTA. The incident adds to concerns after a Grab AV nearly hit a girl nearby on the same day.

An autonomous vehicle, or AV, is a vehicle designed to perform driving tasks using onboard computers rather than relying continuously on a human driver. It builds an understanding of its surroundings and chooses actions such as steering, accelerating, slowing, or stopping.

In general, AVs use cameras, radar, lidar, maps, and other sensors to detect vehicles, pedestrians, road markings, traffic signals, and obstacles. Software combines those inputs, estimates where nearby road users are moving, and sends commands to the vehicle’s steering and braking systems. This explanation uses established AV knowledge; the article does not list CDG’s specific sensors.

The Punggol incident shows why this matters. The CDG AV began turning into the path of an approaching vehicle, and both vehicles slowed. LTA is investigating, while CDG is reviewing the event with Pony.ai and the authority.

The article states that CDG operates one of three autonomous-vehicle routes in Punggol. It also identifies Grab as another AV operator testing in the area, so at least two operators are named in the report. The article does not name all operators or provide a complete route list.

The CDG vehicle was not testing CDG’s existing shuttle route. LTA said it was being tested on a route intended for an enhanced on-demand service. That distinction matters because the near miss occurred during testing of a planned service route, rather than the shuttle route already mentioned in the company’s operations.

The route’s exact number or name is not given. The incident took place at a Punggol Field junction, where CDG was testing U-turns. LTA ordered a precautionary pause while investigating, and CDG is working with Pony.ai and LTA to assess what happened.

LTA told ComfortDelGro to stop U-turn testing at the Punggol junction because one of its AVs nearly collided with another vehicle. The authority said it was investigating the incident and described the pause as a precaution. The decision followed video showing the AV turning into the approaching vehicle’s path.

LTA’s role is to oversee transport matters and set conditions for AV testing in Singapore. In this case, it responded to a reported safety event, directed CDG to pause a specific manoeuvre, and is examining what happened. The article does not describe every part of LTA’s AV-trial framework.

CDG said it is assessing the circumstances with its technology partner, Pony.ai, and LTA. The pause applies to U-turns at the junction, rather than being described as a complete suspension of all CDG AV activity. Further testing decisions may depend on the investigation’s findings.

Repeated near misses can make authorities more cautious about autonomous-vehicle trials. They may pause particular manoeuvres, restrict testing at more junctions, or require companies to review their systems and operating plans. The article directly reports one such response: LTA stopped CDG’s U-turn tests at a Punggol junction.

Public confidence could also be affected. On Nov 5, a CDG AV nearly encountered another vehicle dangerously, while a Grab AV almost hit a girl in nearby Punggol Field Walk. Seeing two incidents linked to AV testing on the same day may increase concerns about whether the vehicles respond safely around people and traffic.

The immediate reality is that LTA is investigating CDG’s incident, and CDG is working with Pony.ai and LTA. The article does not state what penalties or long-term changes will follow. Those outcomes could depend on the investigation and safety assessment.

The CDG incident is connected to an earlier near miss because both involved AV testing in Punggol on Nov 5. The Grab incident involved an AV almost hitting a girl while making a left turn. After that event, Grab was directed to pause testing at certain Punggol junctions.

The CDG event happened at a junction in Punggol Field, where its AV began turning into the path of an approaching vehicle. Both vehicles slowed. The earlier Grab incident occurred in Punggol Field Walk, close to the location of the CDG incident, according to the article.

Together, the incidents raised fresh safety concerns about AV testing in the area. LTA separately directed CDG to pause U-turns at its junction while investigating. The article does not say that the two incidents had the same technical cause, so they should be treated as separate events.

Junctions are difficult because many road users interact at once. Vehicles may approach from different directions, pedestrians may cross, and traffic signals or lane rules can change who has priority. An AV must detect these users, predict their movements, and choose a safe gap while following its route.

A U-turn adds another challenge. The vehicle must cross or merge through more road space, track traffic approaching from multiple directions, and control its speed and steering through a curved path. In the CDG video, the AV started turning into the path of an approaching vehicle, and both vehicles slowed.

These points are established AV and road-safety concepts; the article does not provide a technical diagnosis. It does show why LTA paused U-turn testing at that junction while investigating. The earlier Grab near miss during a left turn also highlights the difficulty of manoeuvres near pedestrians and other traffic.