Cruise recalled its entire driverless car fleet after they were banned in California following a fatality.
Now other driverless car companies are facing questions over the safety of their vehicles.
Unions claim all driverless cars are “unsafe” and called for investigations into Waymo and Beep.
NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cruise’s robotaxi rollout in San Francisco has turned into a fiasco , with the driverless car firm facing growing questions over just how safe its vehicles really are .
Cruise is already being investigated by the federal government and California regulators — and there are also calls for other companies testing driverless cars on public roads to be examined.
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, transportation unions called for investigations into other companies operating autonomous vehicles, such as Google-owned Waymo.
“Automated driving system-equipped vehicle operations are unsafe and untenable in their current form,” the letter stated. “This industry is in dire need of federal regulation and leadership to restore a modicum of safety and establish a realistic path for these vehicles to operate without threatening other road users.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
The unions argued that the growing presence of automated vehicles on public roads was putting workers at risk.
They highlighted the “chaotic and dangerous” expansion of Cruise’s robotaxi service in San Francisco, saying Cruise vehicles had blocked emergency responders and posed hazards to sanitation workers. The letter also pointed to similar incidents involving vehicles operated by Waymo and Beep .
Waymo has expanded its own robotaxi services to Phoenix, Austin, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and averages about 10,000 passengers a week .
A self-driving Waymo car in San Francisco. Getty Images
The sector now faces possibly its biggest challenge yet after Cruise recalled its entire fleet in the wake of a California ban. It was triggered by a grisly accident in which a pedestrian was dragged 20 feet under one of its driverless cars.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cruise’s recall has sparked renewed scrutiny of the decision to allow the driverless car company and its rival Waymo to operate their robotaxi services in San Francisco 24/7 .
California state Sen. David Cortese has launched a public inquiry into the permitting process for autonomous vehicles in the state, and has suggested that regulations need to be tightened to prevent future accidents.
“We need clear regulations that keep pace with technology, creating innovation while protecting public safety and addressing issues like sudden starts and stops, traffic blockage, and cooperation with our first responders on the road,” he said.
The industry now faces pressure to guarantee the safety of its vehicles — but the way Cruise’s vehicles have struggled to adapt to driving in dense city environments is further evidence of how difficult it is to produce truly driverless vehicles that don’t never human input.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The robotaxis operated by the likes of Cruise and Waymo aspire to this level of autonomy, but can only drive themselves in certain circumstances and locations.
Cruise has admitted that its vehicles require regular interventions from humans working in remote operations centers, and they still struggle to deal with rare events .
Gavin Jackson, the boss of UK-based self-driving startup Oxa, previously told Insider that the key barrier to fully self-driving cars was the inability to collect enough data to train cars to deal with these kind of situations.
“There’s only so much data that you can collect from physically driving around,” he said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“And the amount of data that you collect is nowhere near good enough, if you will, to cater for the near-infinite things that could happen when you’re out driving.”
Jackson said reaching this “holy grail” of driverless technology was a monumental challenge likely to take “decades” to achieve.
“The ultimate goal is to have software that has the experience, the knowledge, and the expertise to drive everywhere,” he said. “When it comes to generalized AI that can do that, we’re so far away from that.”
Cruise and Waymo did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.
Cruise’s Recall Means Trouble for Driverless Car Companies
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer