The safety of driverless cars has been a subject of debate for years, and another incident has brought the issue back into the spotlight. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is investigating allegations that a self-driving vehicle operated by Cruise, the driverless car company owned by General Motors, nearly hit a 7-year-old boy and his family while they were crossing the street in San Francisco last year.
According to NBC News, the family claims that the driverless car started to accelerate towards them while they were halfway across the intersection. The car swerved as it approached, narrowly missing the young boy. The family reported the incident to the DMV, which is currently conducting an ongoing investigation.
Cruise has acknowledged that its vehicle was involved in a near-miss incident but has declined to comment further due to an ongoing federal investigation. The company claims that its records do not show any of its driverless cars traveling through the specific intersection at the time of the incident.
This incident is not an isolated one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating at least four incidents involving Cruise vehicles and pedestrians, including one that was captured on video and shared on Reddit. The agency is looking into whether Cruise’s driverless cars have been exercising appropriate caution around pedestrians.
These close calls have raised concerns about the safety of driverless cars and the oversight of the industry. Critics argue that current regulations have failed to keep up with the technology and that driverless car companies should be held liable for any traffic violations committed by their vehicles. California Assemblymember Phil Ting, who represents communities in San Francisco, has introduced new legislation to address this issue.
While the debate over the safety of driverless cars continues, it is clear that incidents like these raise important questions about the readiness of this technology for widespread use. The industry must prioritize safety and transparency to earn the public’s trust and ensure that driverless cars can operate without posing a risk to pedestrians and other road users.
FAQ Section:
Q: What incident has brought the safety of driverless cars back into the spotlight?
A: The incident in which a self-driving vehicle operated by Cruise, owned by General Motors, nearly hit a 7-year-old boy and his family while they were crossing the street in San Francisco last year.
Q: What is the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) doing regarding the incident?
A: The DMV is currently conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Q: What has Cruise, the driverless car company, said about the incident?
A: Cruise has acknowledged the near-miss incident but has declined to comment further due to an ongoing federal investigation. The company claims that its records show no driverless cars traveling through the specific intersection at the time of the incident.
Q: How many incidents involving Cruise vehicles and pedestrians is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigating?
A: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating at least four incidents involving Cruise vehicles and pedestrians.
Q: What concerns have been raised about the safety of driverless cars and the oversight of the industry?
A: Concerns have been raised about the safety of driverless cars and the oversight of the industry due to incidents like these. Critics argue that current regulations have failed to keep up with the technology and that driverless car companies should be held liable for any traffic violations committed by their vehicles.
Q: What legislation has been introduced in response to these concerns?
A: California Assemblymember Phil Ting has introduced new legislation to address the issue of driverless car companies being held liable for traffic violations committed by their vehicles.
Definitions:
– Driverless cars: Vehicles that are capable of driving themselves without human intervention.
– National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: A federal agency in the United States responsible for setting and enforcing vehicle performance and safety standards.
– Pedestrians: People who are walking or moving on foot.
– Ongoing investigation: An investigation that is currently underway and has not yet been concluded or resolved.
Related links:
– Driverless cars are making progress, but remains hard to produce data
– National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
– California Assembly Bill 396
The source of the article is from the blog guambia.com.uy