# ComfortDelGro Suspends Autonomous U-turns After Near-Miss Incident in Punggol Regulators halt specific autonomous shuttle maneuvers following safety concerns during ongoing public road testing. - **Source:** [The Independent SG](https://theindependent.sg) - **Published:** 2026-11-11 - **Topic:** [technology](https://brifing.si/c/technology) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d6cbb523-ad9f-4857-9b66-3ff34acd1bfe ## Autonomous Shuttle Near-Miss A ComfortDelGro autonomous shuttle nearly collided with an oncoming vehicle while performing a U-turn in Punggol Field on November 5. The incident, captured by a dashboard camera, showed the shuttle crossing the path of an approaching car. This event occurred during testing for an enhanced on-demand autonomous service route. ## Regulatory Intervention Initiated The Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed awareness of the incident and launched an immediate investigation into the shuttle's operations. As a precautionary measure, the LTA directed ComfortDelGro to cease all U-turns at the specific junction. This suspension remains in effect until the authority completes its comprehensive safety review process. ## Company Response Strategy Michael Huang, Head of Singapore Point-to-Point Mobility Business at Zig by ComfortDelGro, stated the company is actively investigating the incident. They are collaborating with their technology partner and the LTA to assess the circumstances. The company emphasized that safety remains their primary priority while evaluating the shuttle's operational performance. ## Pattern of Safety Concerns This near-miss follows another incident on the same day involving a different autonomous shuttle in Punggol. In that separate event, a vehicle nearly struck a schoolgirl crossing at a green pedestrian light while making a discretionary turn. These back-to-back incidents have significantly heightened public concern regarding autonomous vehicle safety. ## Grab Testing Also Halted Following the incident involving the schoolgirl, the LTA separately directed Grab to pause testing at similar junctions. Grab and ComfortDelGro operate distinct autonomous shuttle routes within the Punggol area. Both companies are now subject to increased regulatory scrutiny as authorities prioritize public safety over the continuation of current testing schedules. ## Operational Context of Tests The ComfortDelGro shuttle involved was testing a route specifically intended for an enhanced on-demand service. The LTA clarified that this specific route was not part of the company’s existing shuttle service operations. Authorities are now reviewing whether these testing parameters are sufficiently robust for complex, real-world traffic environments in Singapore. ## Technological Safety Challenges Driverless technology aims to provide expanded transport options, yet its viability depends on handling everyday road situations safely. The recent incidents highlight the difficulty autonomous systems face when navigating discretionary turns and complex intersections. Ensuring these vehicles can reliably detect pedestrians and oncoming traffic is critical for future deployment. ## Prioritizing Public Safety The LTA maintains that no test route is worth putting road users at risk. By pausing specific maneuvers, regulators are signaling a strict approach to autonomous vehicle deployment. Future testing will likely require more rigorous safety checks and potentially updated software protocols to prevent similar near-miss incidents from occurring again. ## Sources covering this story - https://theindependent.sg/lta-comfort-delgro-to-pause-u-turns-at-punggol-junction-after-another-av-incident-that-almost-hits-vehicle — --- _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._