TOEIC ETS

Driverless Buses in Swansea? SWANSEA (12 May)—A consortium of city government officials and local business leaders is considering the purchase of driverless buses for some city routes. Commissioned with exploring options to improve transportation in Swansea and surrounding areas, the group recently sent three members to Malaga, Spain, where driverless buses run an eight-kilometre loop several times a day. Consortium member Gareth Elias was impressed by what he learned. Despite concerns about safety and traffic regulations, Mr. Elias could see driverless buses becoming a reality before long, but only in specific cases. "I believe they would be particularly useful during festivals and special events," he said. "I can't imagine them being on the roads every day." Anisha Deepak, an engineer specialising in transportation innovation, served as a technical consultant on the trip. She was struck by the complexity of the buses' artificial intelligence system, which allows them to learn as they collect data on every trip. "Artificial intelligence makes these buses very safe in real-world situations," she said. "Nevertheless, it's best to have a human operator on board at all times in case of emergencies." A public community forum is scheduled for 2 June to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of driverless buses. Visit the Swansea Town Council's Web site at www.swanseatowncouncil.gov.uk to learn more.

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