Alerts and other info from the MRF
October 02, 2024 - Automated Taxi Mayhem
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Automated Taxi Mayhem
To Err Is Human - To Really Muck Up Requires A Computer
Two self-driving taxi companies embarrassingly made news this week. First, while Vice-President Kamala Harris was in San Francisco, her travel was interrupted when a Waymo robotaxi got stuck in the path of the Vice-Presidential motorcade while trying to make a turn. The driverless vehicle had to be manually moved by police to unblock the route. That story comes on the heels of reports from San Francisco that parking lots with off-duty Waymo vehicles become confused and start honking at one another. Nearby residents have complained about the driverless cars honking randomly at all hours of the day and night.
In more serious news, General Motors robotaxi company, Cruise, will undergo more stringent oversight and pay a fine to settle claims by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it failed to disclose information about a crash involving one of its cars that struck and dragged a pedestrian last fall.
In October 2023, a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian nearly 20 feet before coming to a stop. The incident injured the pedestrian and resulted in a suspension of Cruise’s license to operate in California. The case prompted Cruise to recall its automated driving system. According to NHTSA, two reports Cruise provided about the event failed to disclose post-crash details and were incomplete.
Remember that all three of these stories involved vehicles with no driver behind the wheel! The Motorcycle Riders Foundation remains committed to spreading the word about the protection that all roadway users deserve from being test subjects for this new technology. If the Vice-President of the United States can have her path blocked by a driverless car, what chance does the average biker have out there?
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About Motorcycle Riders Foundation
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.
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