Self-driving cars are widely considered to be the future of transportation, but they also present several hazards that need to be addressed. One of the biggest concerns is the potential for technical failures that could lead to accidents and loss of control.
San Francisco firefighters were battling a two-alarm apartment blaze on the corner of Hayes and Divisadero streets on a recent Sunday morning when a driverless Cruise car plowed into an active firefighting scene in San Francisco last month and didn’t stop until firefighters smashed its front window.
Firefighters at the scene stood in front of the car to try to get it to stop but it was of no use.
City officials are now warning that incidents like this one “could increase very significantly” in the city, according to the report, if Cruise and its competitors like Waymo are allowed to expand their services in the city.
The occurrence of problems associated with autonomous vehicles is becoming a pressing issue. According to a letter sent by the city’s transportation authority to the California Public Utilities Commission on January 25, there were 92 reported incidents involving Cruise autonomous vehicles in the period between May 29, and December 31, 2022.
These incidents included Cruise vehicles obstructing intersections, bus lanes, and light-rail tracks, as well as close calls that could have easily resulted in accidents.
Regulators are presently considering whether Cruise should be allowed to begin charging for rides in San Francisco without any restrictions on geolocation. Currently, the company, which is owned by General Motors, is permitted to charge fares on roughly one-third of the city’s streets during the hours of 10 am and 6 pm.
Competitor Waymo was also granted permission to test driverless cars in the city last year and is applying for licenses to start charging fares as well. Despite the numerous incidents, Cruise asserts that it has an unblemished safety record, having covered millions of miles in an urban environment without any fatal injuries.
However, officials, faced with an escalating problem, are concerned about the potential for future incidents that not only could disrupt public transit services but also pose a threat to the city’s residents.
The incident raises several safety concerns about technology and its integration into our roads. It highlights the need for better regulations and guidelines around the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles to ensure the safety of emergency responders and the public.
Additionally, the incident may also raise questions about the reliability and stability of autonomous systems and their ability to properly navigate emergency situations. It’s important for the industry to continuously assess and improve the technology to avoid similar incidents in the future.