Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, has announced that it will reduce its robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco, following a series of crashes involving its autonomous vehicles. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) informed CNBC about the decision, which comes after multiple incidents where Cruise’s self-driving cars appeared to stall in intersections, including a collision with a fire truck on Thursday night.
This reduction is a setback for Cruise, as it recently started offering a paid robotaxi service in San Francisco, following permission from the DMV and Alphabet’s Waymo to expand driverless operations and carry paying passengers 24/7 across the city. Cruise currently operates with a waitlist, but the recent crashes have raised concerns among residents and ignited a debate about the safety and impact of driverless cars in San Francisco.
Opponents argue that autonomous vehicles are dangerous and interfere with emergency responders, while proponents believe they are innovative and will make transportation in the city more affordable and convenient. The DMV is currently investigating the recent incidents involving Cruise vehicles and has requested the company to immediately reduce its active fleet by 50% until the investigation is complete and appropriate corrective actions are taken to improve road safety.
Cruise has agreed to the reduction and will now have no more than 50 autonomous vehicles operating during the day and no more than 150 operating during the evening. Previously, the company stated that it operated 300 cars at night and 100 during the day. Cruise’s San Francisco general manager, Greg Dietrerich, addressed the recent accident with a fire truck in a blog post, attributing the incident to several factors, including buildings at the intersection that obstructed visibility. He also mentioned that the fire truck was driving in the wrong lane to bypass a red light.
Cruise’s fleet has been involved in several incidents over the past week, drawing media attention. In addition to the collision with a fire truck, one Cruise vehicle reportedly got stuck in concrete, and another autonomous vehicle with a passenger was hit by a driver who ran a red light. Last weekend, a group of Cruise vehicles stalled, causing traffic congestion outside an outdoor music festival.
Cruise and the DMV are working together to address these issues and improve the safety of autonomous vehicles on San Francisco’s roads. The outcome of the investigation and the subsequent actions taken by Cruise will be crucial in determining the future of driverless cars in the city.
CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed to this story.
How does Cruise plan to address the safety concerns raised by the recent crashes involving its autonomous vehicles?
Nvestigators about the safety of the company’s autonomous vehicles.
The decision to reduce the robotaxi fleet by half in San Francisco is an effort by Cruise to address the concerns raised by the recent crashes. The incidents, including the collision with a fire truck, have put a spotlight on the potential dangers of self-driving cars and the need for more rigorous testing and evaluation of autonomous technology.
Cruise, which is owned by General Motors, has been one of the leaders in the autonomous vehicle industry, with its self-driving cars logging millions of miles on public roads. However, the recent crashes have raised questions about the company’s ability to ensure the safety of its passengers and other road users.
The California DMV, which regulates the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles in the state, has been closely monitoring Cruise’s operations and has decided to intervene in order to prevent further incidents. The agency’s decision to reduce the robotaxi fleet is a signal to Cruise that it needs to address the safety issues that have emerged.
Cruise’s announcement to reduce its fleet comes shortly after it launched its paid robotaxi service in San Francisco. The company had received permission from the DMV and Waymo, a self-driving technology company under Alphabet, to expand its driverless operations and carry paying passengers throughout the city.
While Cruise has been operating with a waitlist for its robotaxi service, the recent crashes have shaken the confidence of residents and investigators. Concerns about the safety of these autonomous vehicles have been raised, and Cruise is now facing the challenge of restoring public trust in its technology.
The reduction in the robotaxi fleet is undoubtedly a setback for Cruise, as it is forced to scale back its operations and address the safety concerns before it can proceed with its expansion plans. It remains to be seen how the company will respond to these challenges and regain the trust of both regulators and the public.
Overall, the decision to reduce the robotaxi fleet by 50% in San Francisco reflects the need for greater attention to safety in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles. As the technology continues to evolve, it is essential for companies like Cruise to prioritize the safety of their passengers and the public to ensure a successful future for self-driving cars.
That’s a significant reduction. Hopefully, it’ll lead to better safety measures for future deployments.