Paris experiments with driverless shuttle service

Parisian transit officials believe driverless vehicles will soon be playing an important role in public transportation. Côme Berbain is head of innovation for the Paris transport authority, formally known as Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens, or RATP. He said driverless vehicles will help them provide new services.

But before these vehicles are used to pick people up at home, transit officials may have to work out a few kinks. This shuttle slams on the brakes whenever a car, pedestrian or cyclist comes within 3 feet. At one point it gets stuck until a conductor takes over the controls.

This free weekend service began in January. The transport authority now also operates two driverless subway-to-office shuttle services for companies and plans to start others over the coming year.