Driverless bus hits streets of Malaga in southern Spain

The bus is equipped with sensors and cameras which links Malaga’s port to the city center on an eight-kilometre (five-mile) loop, six times a day. The bus uses artificial intelligence to improve its decisions, based on the data that is recorded along the route.

Despite the advanced technology, there is a driver at the wheel to take control if necessary, as country’s law does not currently permit vehicles to operate without a driver.

The 12-metre (39-foot) vehicle, can carry 60 passengers and was developed by Spanish firm Irizar.

The project received funding from the Spanish government and was coordinated with several universities.

The head of the Spanish transport company Avanza, Rafael Durban Carmona said, “The bus knows at all times where it is and what is around it”.

"It can interact with traffic lights, which are also equipped with sensors that alert the bus when they turn red," he added.

Moreover, other driverless pilot projects already exist in Europe, but none of them involves a regular-size urban bus that runs on a normal street with other vehicles.

Last month, Singapore launched a self-driving bus trial with passengers booking through an app.