Review Article

Fully Autonomous Buses: A Literature Review and Future Research Directions

Table 5

Key studies on regulation, policies, and legal issues of autonomous buses.

Author(s) (year)TypeLocationMethodsKey findings

Parent et al. (2013)ReportEuropeRisk analysis(i) A four-step procedure for risk analysis in autonomous bus systems is recommended
(ii) The steps are as follows: (1) risk reduction analysis; (2) determining application of safety regulations; (3) implementing the system; and (4) certification and validating the system
Csepinszky et al. (2014)ReportEuropeLegal review and interviews(i) Liability (three types: contractual, product, and tort) is a clear issue
(ii) Lack of a legal framework is an important issue
(iii) Eight recommendations to address legal and liability issues were made (e.g., disseminating necessary information to vehicle users while they are using the system)
Executive Office of the President, The White House (2016)Government reportUnited StatesMacro-economic and labor analysis(i) Possible policy strategies based on potential impacts of AI include the following:
 (1) “Invest in and develop AI for many benefits”
 (2) “Educate and train Americans for jobs of the future”
 (3) “Aid workers in the transition and empower workers to ensure broadly shared growth”
Transportation Research Board, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2017)ReportUnited StatesExpert workshop, review(i) AV transit technology can shape both long-range transit planning and regional planning and coordination
(ii) Some of the government laws that would have major impacts on AV transit technology are as follows:
 (1) Employee protection
 (2) Workplace safety
 (3) ADA regulation
 (4) Buy America
 (5) National Highway Traffic Safety
 (6) Administration (NHTSA) reports
Lazarus et al. (2018)Book chapterUnited StatesExpert workshop(i) Experts identified seven main policy areas for public transport and shared automated mobility: “safety, efficiency, affordability, equity, user experience, ecology, and public-private integration”
(ii) Transit operators should strategically use automation for shared ride vehicles in areas where transit ridership is low
(iii) Quality of the public transportation system will be improved at the intersection of autonomous vehicles, electrification, and shared mobility

CityMobil2 Project.