How Did a Grab Autonomous Shuttle Nearly Hit a Girl in Punggol?
Quick answer: A Grab–WeRide autonomous shuttle nearly hit a young girl at a pedestrian crossing on Punggol Field Walk, Singapore, at about 8.11am on Thursday 5 November 2026. The girl stepped back in time and was not hurt. Grab says it is reviewing the incident with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and its partner WeRide.
Key facts
- What: An autonomous shuttle nearly collided with a young girl at a pedestrian crossing
- Where: Punggol Field Walk, Punggol, Singapore
- When: About 8.11am on Thursday 5 November 2026
- Reported: 6 November 2026, by Stomp (SPH Media)
- Injuries: None — the girl stepped back in time and no collision happened
- Operator: Grab, with partner WeRide
- Status: Grab is reviewing the incident with the LTA and WeRide
What happened
A minibus driver, Faris Kamsani, was driving along Punggol Field Walk at about 8.11am on 5 November 2026 when he saw the autonomous shuttle ahead of him making a left turn at a traffic junction.
Dashcam footage shows the shuttle's left signal light blinking as it turns. At the same time, a woman and a young girl were waiting to cross at the junction. The pedestrian light had just turned green, and the girl stepped forward to begin crossing.
The shuttle, operated by Grab and WeRide, slowed slightly as it turned but kept going and seemingly failed to detect the child. The girl spotted the vehicle in time and stepped back quickly. The woman with her reached out, grabbed her and held her close. Both watched in shock as the shuttle continued on its way.
Why it matters
The near-miss raises questions about how autonomous shuttles detect pedestrians at crossings, particularly children, who are smaller and harder for sensors to spot. The girl had the green light and the right of way.
Faris, who drives regularly around Punggol and Sengkang, shared the footage and urged parents to remind children to take extra care at traffic lights in the area. He said pedestrians should stay alert around Grab autonomous vehicles even when they have the green light and the right of way.
What Grab and the authorities are doing
Faris called the hotline printed on the back of the shuttle and was told the company was aware of the incident and was looking into it.
A Grab spokesperson told Stomp: "Safety is our top priority. We are aware of this incident and are closely reviewing it together with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and our partner WeRide."
No injuries were reported, and the review is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
Did anyone get hurt in the Punggol shuttle incident?
No. The young girl stepped back in time and the shuttle did not hit her. No injuries were reported.
Where and when did the near-miss happen?
At about 8.11am on Thursday 5 November 2026, at a traffic junction on Punggol Field Walk in Punggol, Singapore.
Who operates the autonomous shuttle?
The shuttle is operated by Grab with its partner WeRide.
What is Grab doing about the incident?
Grab says it is closely reviewing the incident together with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and WeRide, and that safety is its top priority.
What should pedestrians do around autonomous vehicles?
The witness, minibus driver Faris Kamsani, advised parents to remind children to be extra careful at traffic lights around Punggol and Sengkang, and to stay alert around Grab autonomous vehicles even when they have the green light and the right of way.
In this story
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