(MENAFN) Russian lawmakers are advocating for the expansion of driverless taxi trials across the country, arguing that such technology would help reduce the number of migrant drivers and enhance passenger safety.

In a letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Aleksey Nechayev, leader of the New People party, and Anton Tkachev, deputy chair of the State Duma’s Information Policy Committee, highlighted the successful results of autonomous taxi trials in Moscow, Tatarstan, central Russia, and the southern town of Sirius.

They urged the government to accelerate the expansion of these trials in Moscow and gradually introduce driverless taxis in other cities deemed ready for the technology. The lawmakers argued that automated taxis could swiftly reduce reliance on migrant drivers and improve safety standards. In some cities, migrants reportedly make up 10-40% of taxi drivers, many of whom allegedly work outside legal labor frameworks, posing risks to passengers. The lawmakers also linked the rise in migrant taxi drivers to an increase in crimes committed within the sector.

Earlier this month, the Russian Transport Ministry stated that fully autonomous taxis would likely not become widespread until after 2030, as technology and safety systems need further refinement.

Despite this, limited driverless taxi operations already exist. In 2023, Yandex launched a pilot program in Moscow’s Yasenevo district, featuring AI-driven taxis monitored by onboard safety drivers.

According to official data, since 2022, autonomous taxis have completed 80,000 trips in Sirius, 20,000 in Tatarstan’s Innopolis, and 2,000 in Moscow’s Yasenevo. Over two and a half years of trials, there were 36 recorded accidents involving these vehicles, only two of which were attributed to the automated systems themselves.

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