Fatal Pedestrian Accident Puts Self Driving Vehicles On Hold
Many auto companies are developing self-driving technology. If the technology can be perfected, self-driving cars could help eliminate nearly all motor vehicle accidents. Unfortunately, in practice these vehicles still have issues to resolve, and for now one company has put its self-driving vehicles program on hold after a fatal accident with a pedestrian last week.
The popular ridesharing company Uber has been experimenting with driverless technology in several major U.S. cities. Last week, a woman was walking her bicycle across a street in Tempe, Arizona when one of Uber’s self-driving vehicles failed to stop, causing a fatal auto pedestrian accident. Uber’s self-driving vehicles are equipped with a human driver to react in cases of emergency, but unfortunately the driver was not watching the road when the accident occurred.
In response to the fatal car accident, Uber has stopped its self-driving programs in Pittsburgh, Tempe, San Francisco, and Toronto and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the circumstances of the crash.
This is not the first time the NTSB has investigated a self-driving vehicle accident. In 2016, the agency investigated a crash involving a Tesla Model S. This vehicle is not fully autonomous, but does offer many semi-autonomous features designed to help keep drivers safe. While the NTSB determined the vehicle was not at fault for the car accident, the agency did note “overreliance on vehicle automation” was a contributing factor.
What Self-Driving Vehicles Mean For Our Roadways
While self-driving vehicles do hold the potential to prevent nearly all car accidents, the technology still needs strict oversight to ensure car accidents do not occur. When companies fail to properly monitor self-driving prototypes, everyone on the roadways is at risk. It doesn’t matter if a person or a computer is driving a car, all motor vehicles have to be driven safely and responsibly.
Until self-driving technology is improved, it will pose a risk to passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians. Luckily, most people don’t come in contact with self-driving vehicles, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other threats on the roadways. Although safety technology has come a long way, drivers remain at risk due to a number of other factors, like drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and fatigued drivers, among others.
St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a St. Louis car accident, you deserve to hold the negligent party responsible. Call The Glisson Law Firm today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.