In San Francisco, a driverless robotaxi operated by Cruise collided with an on-duty fire truck after driving through a green light. The crash resulted in the passenger in the robotaxi bumping her head, but her injuries were considered non-severe. Cruise expressed concern for the passenger’s well-being and is investigating the incident to understand the performance of their autonomous vehicles. The collision took place just a week after Waymo and Cruise were approved to operate 24-hour driverless taxis in the city by the California Public Utilities Commission.
This is not the first issue involving robotaxis in San Francisco. Previously, a Cruise taxi drove into wet concrete, leaving residents concerned about the decision-making capabilities of autonomous vehicles. Since June 2022, nearly 600 incidents involving autonomous vehicles have occurred in San Francisco, according to city transit officials.
In response to these incidents, San Francisco officials have asked for a stay on robotaxi legalization while the city seeks a rehearing of the decision. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu stated that the technology is not yet ready and poses risks to the operations of first responders. San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson further expressed concerns about the underlying problems and the industry’s commitment to solving them.
Despite these concerns, Cruise maintains that their technology is safe and is disappointed in the city’s decision to restrict a technology that has an excellent safety record. Waymo, another robotaxi company in the city, is closely following the developments and intends to continue working with the city to provide safe mobility options to San Franciscans.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the circumstances of the crash in the headline. The robotaxi drove through a green light when the crash occurred.
Perspective: While the advancement of autonomous vehicles holds the promise of safer and more efficient transportation, incidents like the collision between the Cruise robotaxi and the fire truck highlight the challenges and concerns surrounding the technology. As cities reconsider the deployment of driverless cabs, it is crucial to address the issues faced by autonomous vehicles to ensure the safety of passengers, pedestrians, and emergency responders. Striking a balance between technological progress and public safety will be key to the successful integration of driverless cabs into our cities.
