(Newswire.net — November 14, 2019) — Investigators have recently discovered that an Uber self-driving test vehicle was experiencing software problems when it hit and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona in 2018. According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the vehicle’s safety sensors failed to identify Elaine Herzberg as a pedestrian as she crossed the street. Although a number of safety issues have been investigated, there was no official conclusion regarding the cause of the accident until finding were released Tuesday.
The NTSB found that the vehicle did not recognize the bicycle as an imminent crash until just moments before, when it was too late. “The system design did not include a consideration for jaywalking pedestrians,” the NTSB said.
The accident occured during Uber’s testing of its self-driving Volvo XC90. Herzberg was crossing a dimly lit multi-lane road. After the accident, they stopped testing in Arizona, however, resumed in Pennsylvania several months later.
This isn’t the first time Uber’s self-driving vehicles were in an accident. The report also found that between September 2016 and there were 37 crashes. In the future, the NTSB plans to use these findings to make further improvements to the self-driving sector.
“We deeply value the thoroughness of the NTSB’s investigation into the crash and look forward to reviewing their recommendations,” Uber said in a statement.
In a court case, prosecutors ruled that Uber was not responsible for the death. However, Rafaela Vasquez, the car’s backup driver, could still face criminal charges. The dash cam reveals that Vasquez had taken his eyes off the road, and Hulu’s streaming service suggestthat he was watching a TV show during the time the accident occured.
The accident in Tempe raised concerns for the future of autonomous vehicles, whose primary purpose is to make roads safer. In 2016, 11,000 Americans were involved in fatal car accidents because of drunk driving alone, prompting many of their to seek compensation. Many don’t know what to do after a car accident. Even those involved in minor accidents might need an attorney to accommodate any expenses incurred during the accident, as well as pain and suffering.
Greater road safety is possible with autonomous vehicles, however, car manufacturers and technology companies spearheading self-driving efforts have several other benefits in mind. After all, driver behavior and errors is the cause of 94% of car crashes. Drunk driving, speeding, and distraction will all be greatly reduced. It also offers a greater level of freedom and independence to people with disabilities and seniors with limited capabilities. And finally, it can save money—less money means less dollars spent on post-accident medical care and vehicle repair.
Although the Uber accident shed the spotlight on the potential dangers of self-driving cars, manufacturers are looking at the bigger picture: self-driving vehicles are still far less likely than to get into an accident. Case in point: Tesla claimed that in self-driving mode, their vehicles were statistically safer than human drivers.