Self-driving Uber runs over pedestrian

A self-driving Uber test vehicle with a safety driver behind the wheel has killed a pedestrian in the U.S. 

In what is the first recorded incident of this magnitude, a self-driving car has run over a pedestrian. The self-driving car was being operated by Uber as a part of its self-driving car test programme. The incident occurred at around 10p.m. in Tempe, Arizona, when 49 year old Elaine Herzberg was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk. Unfortunately, she passed away at a hospital later from the injuries sustained during the accident.

The Tempe Police have confirmed in statements that the self-driving Uber was in self-driving mode at the time of the accident and that there was a safety driver sitting behind the wheel of the car during the incident. While the incident is being investigated and Uber is fully coordinating with local authorities on the matter, what hasn’t been cleared yet is how or why the human safety driver could not control the vehicle in a manner to prevent the accident.

While the National Transportation Safety Board is launching an investigation on the incident, Uber has announced that it has suspended testing of all its self-driving cars in Tempe, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto.

Arizona has become a favourite amongst self-driving car developers for conducting tests on self-driving cars owing to its good weather as rain or snow make autonomous cars struggle. It has also been reported earlier this month that the Governor of Arizona updated an executive order to allow a self-driving car to operate on state roads without a safety driver behind the wheel.