IDA proposes allocating airwaves for driverless cars

Singapore is taking its first coordinated step to promote driverless vehicles, with a proposal to set aside mobile airwaves for them, reported The Straits Times. 

Following the United States' lead in the field, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has proposed to allocate and regulate airwaves in the 5.9 GHz frequency band for automotive use.

The driverless vehicles operate via wireless controllers typically installed on lamp posts and traffic lights that send information warning them about other vehicles, and when to slow down or stop.

On top of driverless vehicles, the IDA hopes to enable the development of new transport services such as intelligent road pricing, parking management, fleet management and road junction safety.

The long-term aims are to improve road safety, ease traffic congestion and cut pollution. The IDA said in a consultation paper published on its website late last month, "The technologies rely on wireless communications ... to enable the transmission of information between vehicles and road infrastructure, and among vehicles."