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Cruise, Waymo: Humans’ Driving Skills Criticized Amid Robotaxi Permit Delays

Cruise, Waymo: Humans’ Driving Skills Criticized Amid Robotaxi Permit Delays

Are Humans Really the Problem on the Roads? Cruise and Waymo Think So

Autonomous vehicle companies Cruise and Waymo have recently launched a campaign to convince the public that humans are bad drivers and that their technologies are the solution to making roads safer. However, their offensive tactics have faced criticism from residents, safe streets advocates, and city agencies who argue that malfunctioning robotaxis contribute to congestion and hinder traffic flow, public transit, and emergency responders. These efforts come as California regulators delay granting expanded permits that would allow both companies to offer fully driverless robotaxi rides in San Francisco around the clock.

Cruise, in an attempt to sway public opinion, took out full-page ads in major newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Sacramento Bee. The headline of the ad boldly states, “Humans are terrible drivers.” The ad goes on to highlight the millions of accidents caused by human drivers each year in the US and claims that Cruise’s driverless cars are designed to save lives.

Waymo, owned by Alphabet, published a blog post with a similar sentiment. The company used its robotaxis to analyze the speeds of cars in San Francisco and Phoenix over a 10-day period and found that vehicles exceeded the speed limit 47% of the time. Waymo cited data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which revealed that speeding accounted for one-third of all traffic fatalities and 13% of injuries in the US in 2020. The blog post emphasized that unlike humans, the Waymo Driver is designed to follow speed limits and can detect the speed of other vehicles on the road to predict their maneuvers.

Both Cruise and Waymo highlighted their safety records. Cruise claimed that its cars were involved in 92% fewer collisions as the primary contributor and 54% fewer collisions overall compared to human drivers in a comparable driving environment. A spokesperson for Cruise argued that local leaders and regulators should explore every possible option to improve road safety, including embracing autonomous technology.

While it is true that human drivers are not without fault, many safe streets advocates argue that cities should focus on advancing public transit and micromobility rather than relying on Big Tech solutions. Critics of autonomous vehicles point out that Cruise and Waymo technologies are far from perfect. There have been instances of Cruise AVs malfunctioning and coming to a halt in the middle of roads or intersections. Additionally, a Waymo vehicle recently hit and killed a dog in San Francisco, although it appeared to be an unavoidable accident.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has delayed the hearing to approve permit expansions for both companies twice, with the latest delay pushing the hearing date to August 10. The CPUC has not provided a specific reason for the delay but stated that further review is required. In San Francisco, Cruise currently operates a limited fared passenger service in certain areas of the city from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as a free passenger service throughout the city with or without a safety driver. Waymo operates a fared service throughout San Francisco at any time of the day but is required to have a human safety driver present. The company also offers a fully autonomous service in the city, which is currently free.

The narratives presented by Cruise and Waymo may have some truth to them, but it does not necessarily mean that robotaxis and autonomous vehicles are the ultimate solution. It is crucial to consider the concerns raised by residents, safe streets advocates, and city agencies regarding congestion and the impact on traffic flow, public transit, and emergency response. As California regulators continue to review permit expansions, it is essential to prioritize comprehensive road safety measures that benefit all road users.

Source: www.globalvillagespace.com

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