Current:Home > Contact-usCalifornia orders Cruise driverless cars off the roads because of safety concerns-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
California orders Cruise driverless cars off the roads because of safety concerns
View Date:2024-12-23 21:29:20
California has ordered the company Cruise to immediately stop operations of its driverless cars in the state. The Department of Motor Vehicles said on Tuesday that it was issuing the indefinite suspension because of safety issues with the vehicles.
"When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits," the DMV wrote in a statement. "There is no set time for a suspension."
The move comes after one of Cruise's driverless cars struck a pedestrian in downtown San Francisco earlier this month. The incident involved a woman who was first hit by a human driver and then thrown onto the road in front of a Cruise vehicle. The Cruise vehicle braked but then continued to roll over the pedestrian, pulling her forward, then coming to a final stop on top of her.
Rescuers used the jaws of life to remove the vehicle and free the woman. The pedestrian survived but sustained life-threatening injuries.
"Our teams are currently doing an analysis to identify potential enhancements to the AV's response to this kind of extremely rare event," said Navideh Forghani, a Cruise spokesperson.
Forghani said Cruise provided regulators a video of the incident and is complying with the DMV's order and "pausing operations." Those cars that have a human safety driver will be allowed to continue operating in the state.
The DMV originally gave Cruise a permit for 300 driverless vehicles in San Francisco, but it cut that number in half after one of its cars collided with a firetruck in August.
Driverless cars run by Cruise, which is owned by GM, and Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet, have been involved in numerous mishaps in the city over the past several months. They've run red lights, rear-ended a bus and blocked crosswalks and bike paths.
San Francisco's police and fire departments have also said the cars aren't yet ready for public roads. They've tallied more than 55 incidents where self-driving cars have gotten in the way of rescue operations. Those incidents include driving through yellow emergency tape, blocking firehouse driveways, running over fire hoses and refusing to move for first responders.
Despite those incidents, state regulators voted in August to allow self-driving car companies to expand their operations in San Francisco and other California cities. That prompted the city of San Francisco to file motions with the state demanding a halt to that expansion.
"We need actual people behind the wheel with a pulse and a brain that know how to maneuver in sticky situations," San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton said at Tuesday rally protesting the driverless cars. "These Cruise vehicles are dangerous on our streets. When they see tragedy or see danger or there's an obstacle in their way, all they know how to do is freeze."
Federal regulators are also looking at the safety of driverless cars. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Cruise citing pedestrian safety concerns.
The crackdown on Cruise comes as GM announced during its earnings call this week that it is intent on expanding its driverless car program in the U.S.
veryGood! (175)
Related
- Rafael dissolves into a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico after hitting Cuba as a hurricane
- Missouri prison ignores court order to free wrongfully convicted inmate for second time in weeks
- How a perfect storm sent church insurance rates skyrocketing
- BETA GLOBAL FINANCE: The Radiant Path of the Cryptocurrency Market
- Congress returns to unfinished business and a new Trump era
- Darryl Joel Dorfman Leads SSW Management Institute’s Strategic Partnership with BETA GLOBAL FINANCE for SCS Token Issuance
- Wisconsin man charged with fleeing to Ireland to avoid prison term for Capitol riot role
- Massachusetts issues tighter restrictions on access to homeless shelter system
- Driver dies after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina
- Demonstrators stage mass protest against Netanyahu visit and US military aid to Israel
Ranking
- Democrat Cleo Fields wins re-drawn Louisiana congressional district, flipping red seat blue
- Find Out Which America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Stars Made the 2024 Squad
- How historic Versailles was turned into equestrian competition venue for Paris Olympics
- Hugh Jackman Weighs in on a Greatest Showman Sequel
- Where is 'College GameDay' for Week 12? Location, what to know for ESPN show
- Tarek El Moussa Slams Rumor He Shared a Message About Ex Christina Hall’s Divorce
- NFL, players union informally discussing expanded regular-season schedule
- Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa Speak Out on Christina Hall's Divorce From Josh Hall
Recommendation
-
Nevada Democrats keep legislative control but fall short of veto-proof supermajority
-
China says longtime rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah sign pact to end rift, propose unity government
-
Russia and China push back against U.S. warnings over military and economic forays in the melting Arctic
-
Democratic delegates cite new energy while rallying behind Kamala Harris for president
-
Gerry Faust, former Notre Dame football coach, dies at 89
-
Mattel introduces its first blind Barbie, new Barbie with Down syndrome
-
Horoscopes Today, July 23, 2024
-
Fire Once Helped Sequoias Reproduce. Now, it’s Killing the Groves.