The self-driving car service, Waymo, has suspended its people transport services after a series of recent incidents. Back in April, the firm paused its driverless car service upon learning that a riderless car drove into floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas and got trapped.
Following this and other incidents in the five cities where Waymo had introduced its fleet of robotaxis, the company voluntarily recalled its cars due to this apparent software problem.
A danger or the wave of the future?
As in life, two things can be true at the same time. Rideshare and other transport companies definitely have their eye on current and future tech to outfit their automobiles with the technology to safely transport people in robotaxis.
But these companies are also mindful of the Texas incident, as well as another unsafe incident that occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, where a riderless car became inundated by floodwater.
Another area of concern
In their interview with Reuters, a spokesperson for Waymo indicated they were looking to find safer ways for their robotaxi fleet to navigate construction zones. They indicated that their “highest priority” remained safety.
Would you ride in a robotaxi?
Some might worry that there are enough traffic hazards here in Northeast Pennsylvania with operator-driven vehicles and that adding in robotaxis will only worsen the dangers. But it would be shortsighted to dismiss driverless transit entirely.
Clearly, businesses and investors see the potential in automated fleets of transit vehicles. While the industry may not be quite “there” yet, it is definitely on the horizon.
Issues of liability remain
If robotaxis indeed become the future of the transportation industry, there will inevitably be issues of liability for injuries stemming from collisions and other driving failures. Determining liability for the losses, injuries and damages may need a professional to review and submit any claims for damages.