Safety concerns mount after two Robotaxi accidents

The safety of self-driving vehicles has been called into question after multiple taxi accidents

In the wake of the two recent incidents that occurred overnight in San Francisco, there have been stronger calls to reconsider the rapid deployment of robo-taxi services. Both incidents involved autonomous cruise vehicles, with one of them colliding with a fire engine while responding to emergencies.

The first incident

The collision with the fire engine occurred at approximately 10:20 p.m. at an intersection in the Tenderloin District. According to San Francisco police, while Cruz’s taxi had a green signal, it failed to give way to the fire truck on an emergency call. Fortunately, none of the firefighters were injured. However, a passenger from the self-driving taxi was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation highlights the taxi’s mistake in yielding to the emergency vehicle. The fire engine was started in Code 3 emergency mode, with lights and sirens on.

the reason Autonomous car Failure to achieve is still uncertain. Cruz is investigating the incident to understand the case more clearly.

The second incident

Then, about two hours later, the Dodge Charger crashed into another self-driving cruiser in the Mission District. Monitoring footage showed the crash at 12:19 a.m. at the intersection of Mission Street and 26th Street. According to San Francisco Police, the autotaxi was moving through the intersection with a green light when the Charger hit it. A Cruise representative stated that the self-driving car sensed the approaching Charger and applied the brakes before impact occurred.

San Francisco Police He stated that the car, which was being driven by a human being, likely ran a red light which led to the collision. Therefore, it does not appear that the self-driving car caused the accident. Officials say drugs or alcohol were not a factor.

Officials and residents wonder how ready Robotaxi services are

The incidents occurred just a day after city officials in San Francisco urged state authorities to halt the growth of the city’s in-city robo-taxi service. they believe Self-driving cars It’s still experiencing technical issues and isn’t quite ready for mainstream adoption.

Residents have expressed reservations, saying the technology is not yet mature. They expressed their concerns about the safety of these vehicles, stressing that despite their advanced capabilities, they remain error-prone machines.

What are the concerns about self-driving cars?

Fears Information about self-driving cars ranges from technical and ethical issues to social, economic and regulatory implications. Here are the top five concerns:

1. Safety concerns:
   • Unexpected Behavior: Despite being able to handle many scenarios, self-driving cars can encounter situations that are not programmed for them, resulting in unexpected behavior.
   • Sensor and hardware failures: Failures in hardware components, such as sensors or on-board computers, can compromise safety.
   • Code bugs: Like any software, the code for self-driving vehicles can contain bugs that lead to unintended actions.
2. Moral dilemmas:
   • Decision making: In unavoidable collision scenarios, how should a self-driving car be programmed to react? Who or what should he prioritize?
   • Data privacy: Self-driving cars collect huge amounts of data. Concerns about the storage, processing and sharing of this data may lead to a breach of personal privacy.
3. Security threats:
   • Cybersecurity: There is a risk of hacking into self-driving vehicles, which could endanger passengers and other road users.
   • Data manipulation: The manipulation of data used by self-driving cars, such as maps or traffic lights, can have harmful consequences.
4. Economic and employment impacts:
   • Job shedding: With the increasing prevalence of self-driving vehicles, there could be job losses in sectors such as taxi services, trucking, and delivery.
   • Economic inequality: If self-driving vehicles are too expensive to begin with, they could widen the gap between the rich and the less well off, which could lead to a divide in who has access to the technology and its benefits.
5. Regulatory and legal issues:
   • Lack of standards: There are no global standards for testing or publishing self-driving cars.
   • Liability: Establishing who is at fault in the event of an accident (software developer, vehicle manufacturer, or user) is a concern that still needs to be addressed.
   • Insurance: Traditional car insurance models may need to be restructured in a world where cars drive themselves.

The following video from KCRA 3 News sheds light on the self-driving taxi controversy.

Northern California auto accident attorney

I Ed Smitha Sacramento auto accident attorney. Suffering from injuries due to an accident can be very traumatic. If you’ve been hurt in a self-driving car accident, call our law office at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. Our legal team has helped individuals obtain fair compensation for their injury and manslaughter Claims since 1982. See our past cases Judgments and settlements.

Image from photography Kenny Ellison on Unsplash

Cha Low (CS 755)