# Grab Autonomous Vehicle Nearly Strikes Schoolgirl in Singapore A Grab autonomous shuttle nearly collided with a pedestrian during a turn in Punggol. - **Source:** [CNA – Singapore](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [technology](https://brifing.si/c/technology) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/849b5ce1-7549-4b3d-a45e-a2b4aa5b2aa9 ## Near Miss in Punggol A Grab autonomous vehicle nearly struck a schoolgirl during a morning commute in Punggol, Singapore. The incident occurred at approximately 8:11am on Thursday, November 5, while the vehicle was executing a discretionary left turn at a traffic junction. The event was captured on a 36-second video shared via the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group. ## Autonomous Shuttle Operations The vehicle involved is part of Grab's existing autonomous shuttle service that currently operates on two fixed routes within the Punggol area. These vehicles are developed by the autonomous driving technology company WeRide. Grab also coordinates with other partners, such as ComfortDelGro, which utilizes vehicles provided by the company Pony.ai for its own separate routes. ## Planned Fleet Expansion Grab recently announced ambitious plans to scale its autonomous vehicle operations significantly. In September, the company revealed intentions to increase its fleet size from 10 to 50 vehicles over a six-month period. This expansion aims to extend services beyond the current Punggol routes to cover additional locations throughout various parts of Singapore in the future. ## Service Development Strategy Beyond fixed-route shuttles, Grab is actively preparing to launch an on-demand, point-to-point autonomous service. This new offering will be available across selected locations in Punggol, with additional service points scheduled for rollout in the coming months. The company intends to integrate these autonomous options into its broader transportation ecosystem for local Singaporean commuters. ## Official Safety Response In response to inquiries regarding the near-miss incident, a Grab spokesperson emphasized that safety remains the company's top priority. Grab confirmed they are aware of the situation and are conducting a thorough review of the event. This investigation is being carried out in close collaboration with the Land Transport Authority and their technology partner, WeRide. ## Regulatory Oversight Role The Land Transport Authority is the primary government body responsible for overseeing autonomous vehicle testing and deployment in Singapore. Following the incident, the authority has been contacted for comment regarding the safety protocols of these trials. Regulatory bodies typically monitor such incidents to ensure that autonomous systems meet strict public safety standards before wider adoption. ## Autonomous Driving Challenges Discretionary turns remain a complex maneuver for autonomous systems, requiring precise detection of pedestrians and oncoming traffic. While sensors and artificial intelligence models process environmental data, human-like anticipation of unpredictable pedestrian behavior at crossings continues to be a significant technical hurdle. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in deploying self-driving technology in dense urban environments. ## Future Safety Implications The outcome of the investigation into this Punggol incident will likely influence future safety requirements for autonomous vehicle operators in Singapore. As Grab scales its fleet to 50 vehicles, maintaining public trust and ensuring pedestrian safety are critical factors. The industry must balance rapid technological innovation with rigorous safety validation to prevent similar near-miss events. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/grab-autonomous-vehicle-traffic-incident-6530421 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._