Tech
Autonomous Vehicle Scandal in the USA: Police Officer Had to Pull Over Waymo Vehicle
In the autonomous vehicle scandal in the USA, a police officer had to pull over a Waymo vehicle. Keep reading for more details.
On June 19, in an incident in the city of Phoenix in the United States, a police officer had to stop an autonomous Waymo vehicle driving in the wrong lane. This incident drew attention as it occurred at a time when autonomous vehicles are expected not to violate traffic rules.
According to a statement from Waymo, it was mentioned that the vehicle got confused due to some construction signs and thought the traffic was continuing on the opposite lane. However, the fact that the vehicle also crossed a red light at the same time revealed risks that could lead to a potential accident.
In the bodycam footage of the police officer, moments when the vehicle was driving in the construction area and crossed to the opposite lane were recorded. The officer expressed that the vehicle lost itself at the intersection, describing the situation as “very bad.”
In the United States, autonomous vehicles can usually pull over by understanding police signals and allowing police access. Police officers can contact the representative of the company operating the vehicle by pressing a button inside the vehicle.
Google’s autonomous vehicle service Waymo is generally considered one of the most reliable autonomous vehicle technologies. However, this incident constitutes a worrying example showing that the technology still poses some risks.
What do you think about autonomous vehicles driving on the streets? What measures do you think should be taken for the widespread adoption of such technologies?