Licenses to operate self-driving shuttles and taxis are to be available by July 2026, as part of the Flemish Government's mobility plans.
However, the road to driverless vehicles is paved with legislative and practical hurdles, De Standaard reported on Monday.
While self-driving shuttles are already a reality in some parts of the country, 'robotaxis' and 'robotshuttles' are yet to blend in with regular traffic.
The push to get self-driving vehicles on the road is part of a move to make transport more sustainable and advance technological developments. In addition, self-driving cars and shuttles could make roads safer, De Standaard underscored.
But despite the approaching Flemish deadline, and Wallonia's focus on welcoming autonomous cars, some still consider the goal too ambitious.
Last week, in an opinion piece published on L'Echo, the public affairs and policy director at Touring, Joost Kaesemans, claimed that the country is currently still behind on several key aspects to achieve autonomous transport. He highlighted the lack of legal frameworks, data privacy concerns, and poor road infrastructure.
Nonetheless, the Flemish Government remains committed to their roadmap plans for commercial autonomous transport. Until the end of the year, legislative texts and technical requirements are to be researched, to prepare for the adaptation or amendments of legal frameworks.
