Nationwide Attention: A Reporter with a Lapsed Driver's License Experiences Fukuoka's "AI Driving School Car"—A Savior for Labor Shortages, How AI and Human Synergy is Transforming Driving Instruction Services

Amidst a severe shortage of personnel at driving schools, the "AI Driving School," a related company of Minami Fukuoka Driving School in Fukuoka Prefecture, has developed an "AI training car" that is garnering attention nationwide. According to estimates by the All Japan Federation of Designated Driving Schools, due to the aging of instructors, there is expected to be a shortage of over 30% of instructors relative to the number of trainees by 2033. In response, the "AI training car" was introduced, which uses LiDAR, in-car cameras, and speed and operation data to allow AI to evaluate driving and supplement instruction via wireless communication. Minami Fukuoka has implemented six of these cars over the past five years, reducing the need for in-car instruction during corporate training and refresher courses for inactive drivers, thereby increasing efficiency. By May 2025, with approval from the Fukuoka Prefectural Police and others, it became possible to use these cars for "wireless training" before obtaining a license. An RKB reporter, who is an inactive driver, experienced a real drive where the AI provided immediate and strict feedback via voice on missed signals, inadequate safety checks, and lane deviations. The AI acts like a "Spartan instructor," visualizing weaknesses, allowing human instructors to focus on personalized coaching. It is expected that over 50 schools nationwide will adopt this system by the 2026 fiscal year, making the simultaneous realization of "safety, efficiency, and quality" more feasible through the synergy of humans and AI. This initiative from Fukuoka is at the forefront of educational DX, addressing Japan's structural challenges of regional aging and labor shortages.