American Safety Officials Initiate Inquiry into Alphabet's Self-Driving Fleet Over Student Transport Safety Concerns
The primary vehicle safety agency revealed recently it had started a preliminary examination regarding around 2,000 the company's self-driving vehicles following reports suggesting the company's autonomous taxis may have did not follow road safety laws around stationary student transport vehicles.
Government Oversight Intensifies for Self-Driving Technology
This inquiry by NHTSA constitutes a recent government examination of driverless systems while regulators closely examine how autonomous technologies engage with walkers, cyclists, and additional traffic participants.
Event Details Prompt Formal Investigation
Federal officials reported how their defects office launched this investigation following flagging a media report describing an incident in which a Waymo self-driving car failed to remain stationary while coming near a school bus with its red lights illuminated, stop arm deployed, plus safety barrier activated.
The report showed that the autonomous car first came to a halt alongside the school bus before proceeded past the bus front, going around the extended warning device and crossing control arm as children were disembarking.
The Company's Operations and Response
Waymo indicated that its autonomous vehicle network presently has over 1,500 vehicles running in prominent US metropolitan areas, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, plus including New York City scheduled soon.
One company spokesperson declared: "The company has previously developed and implemented upgrades regarding handling student transport plus we'll land further technical enhancements in our next software release."
Officials added: "Navigating carefully near young passengers remains among Waymo's highest objectives. During the incident referenced, the vehicle came toward the transport vehicle from a position where the flashing lights plus stop arm weren't detectable then proceeded carefully past the forward area of the transport before proceeding beyond the bus, keeping a safe space away from children."
Vehicle Specifications
NHTSA reported how the vehicle involved featured Waymo's latest autonomous technology and was functioning with no an actual safety driver when it occurred.
