【明報專訊】On October 19, the Land Transport Authority (LTA, 陸路交通管理局) of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University (NTU, 南洋理工大學) signed an agreement to conduct the first trial of driverless buses in Jurong West (裕廊西), an area near NTU.

Singapore is a densely populated city state. Its use of autonomous technology is partly aimed at easing the problems arising from the fact that it lacks land and labour. "This autonomous bus trial is the first of its kind in Singapore. It is aimed at increasing road safety, reducing vehicle congestion, alleviating pollution and addressing manpower challenges," said Prof Lam Khin Yong, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Research at NTU.

A public trial of self-driving taxis in Singapore began last August. NTU's Energy Research Institute (南大能源研究院) will develop two electric hybrid buses and equip them with sensors and other technologies so that they can function without drivers. Moreover, the city has plans for developing driverless road cleaners.

(sources: Ming Pao, LTA)

■ Photo Story

The bus will have many high-tech parts that enable it to detect bus lanes, obstacles, pedestrians, traffic lights and traffic signs.

■ English highway﹕ city state

A city state is an independent state that consists of a city and the area around it.

e.g. Monaco (摩納哥) is a modern city state.

■ Quiz

Answer the following questions.

(Answers on next text)

1. Is the following sentence true or false?

Singapore announced on October 19 a driverless bus would run in the city.

(True / False)

2. Which of the following is not a purpose of the trial?

a. to reduce traffic congestion

b. to create jobs

c. to increase road safety

d. to alleviate pollution

3. Find in paragraph two a verb that means "ease". Write down its infinitive.

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4. List the types of driverless vehicles Singapore now has or will have.

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■ Glossary

trial (n) 試驗

autonomous (adj) 自主的、有自主權的

congestion (n) 擠塞

obstacle (n) 障礙