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The California Public Utilities Commission has officially suspended Waymo’s application to extend its robotaxi services in parts of Los Angeles and San Francisco’s peninsula until June 19.
The decision, announced through a notification on the commission’s website, cites mounting safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles. The application is currently “suspended for further staff review,” as per the notification posted on an unspecified date.
Waymo, which is already operational in San Francisco and Phoenix, submitted the expansion request on January 19, emphasizing its commitment to collaboration with policymakers, first responders, and community organizations for the launch of its ride-hailing service.
Due to recent accidents involving Waymo and its rival, General Motors’ Cruise, there is a growing wave of skepticism towards robotaxis. The move underscores the heightened scrutiny of the safety aspects of autonomous vehicle deployment.
(Photo: JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images) A Waymo autonomous vehicle on Steiner Street in San Francisco, on November 17, 2023.
Waymo Robotaxi Set on Fire
In a recent incident in San Francisco reported by TechTimes, unidentified individuals vandalized and set ablaze a Waymo One driverless car. A Waymo Jaguar I-Pace electric car, part of the Waymo One robotaxi service, was targeted after waiting for the crowd to disperse. Social media footage showed the automobile being assaulted, defaced, and burned.
The attacked Waymo One had no passengers. Consequently, no injuries were recorded at the location despite the violent nature of the incident. Eyewitnesses described dread as some rushed away and others approached the car to destroy it. They said that an individual jumped on the car’s hood and broke its windshield.
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Earlier this month, Waymo’s driverless car struck a cyclist at the intersection of Mississippi and 17th streets in the well-lit Potrero Hill neighborhood. Law enforcement officials reported that the cyclist sustained minor injuries while the passenger inside the Waymo driverless car remained unharmed.
The incident happened at a four-way intersection, where the Waymo vehicle was waiting for a truck to complete its maneuver. However, it failed to detect a cyclist closely following the truck.
Cruise’s Challenges
In October last year, General Motors’ autonomous vehicle division, Cruise, announced a suspension of its self-driving operations in the US following the withdrawal of its license by California authorities due to safety concerns. This comes after a Cruise driverless taxi was involved in an incident where a pedestrian was dragged on October 2.
The decision to halt operations nationally comes as investigations into potential risks to passengers and pedestrians raised alarms. Cruise stated that the decision aims to facilitate a comprehensive review of procedures, tools, and systems to restore public confidence.
Following the decision, Cruise experienced a significant shakeup in November as CEO Kyle Vogt resigned amid safety concerns and an ongoing investigation into the company’s US fleet. The decision came shortly after Vogt, a co-founder of Cruise in 2013, issued an apology to Cruise’s staff, acknowledging recent challenges.
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