Mounting Concerns Over Self-Driving Cars Spark Calls for New Laws and Oversight

Recent allegations of misconduct by autonomous vehicle maker Cruise have raised questions about the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the self-driving car industry.

The self-driving car industry is facing growing scrutiny and concerns over safety and accountability. Recent allegations that autonomous vehicle maker Cruise misled the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) about an accident in San Francisco, which left a pedestrian seriously injured, have raised questions about the need for new laws and watchdogs to govern the technology’s rapid expansion. With hundreds of self-driving cars currently being tested on city streets in California, there are ongoing safety concerns and uncertainties about law enforcement’s ability to hold autonomous vehicles accountable for traffic violations. Experts and lawmakers are calling for a better understanding of the safety of self-driving cars and the development of appropriate regulations to ensure public safety.

Safety concerns and uncertainties surrounding self-driving cars

The safety of self-driving cars compared to human drivers is a topic of ongoing debate. Irina Raicu, Director of the Internet Ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, acknowledges that there is still much to learn about the technology’s performance. While self-driving cars may make fewer mistakes than human drivers, they can still make different types of errors. Raicu raises concerns about the lack of consent and the potential risks associated with testing autonomous vehicles on city streets alongside human drivers and pedestrians.

Lack of enforcement for traffic violations by autonomous vehicles

One major issue with self-driving cars is the lack of enforcement when they violate traffic laws. In California, traffic tickets can only be issued if there is an actual driver present in the car. An internal memo from San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott reveals that no citation for a moving violation can be issued if an autonomous vehicle is being operated in a driverless mode. This double standard raises questions about fairness and the need for new laws to appropriately govern the evolving technology.

Texas leads the way with reformed traffic laws

While California’s current transportation laws offer immunity to autonomous vehicles from receiving traffic tickets, Texas has taken a different approach. In 2017, Texas reformed its traffic laws to allow ticketing of driverless cars. According to the Texas Transportation Code, the owner of a driverless car is considered the operator and can be cited for breaking traffic laws, regardless of whether they are physically present in the vehicle. This proactive approach to regulation highlights the need for California to reassess its current legal framework.

The track record of autonomous vehicle companies

Autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo and Cruise argue that their technology is already safer than human drivers. Waymo’s own research and a study conducted by Cruise show that their autonomous vehicles have a lower crash rate compared to human drivers. However, critics argue that the track record of autonomous vehicles is not extensive enough to draw definitive conclusions. While Waymo and Cruise have not experienced any traffic-related deaths, human drivers, on average, cause one death for every 100 million miles driven. The high standard to which autonomous vehicles are held raises questions about the need for more oversight and regulation.

Calls for new laws and oversight

Some lawmakers and experts are calling for new laws and oversight to ensure public safety and accountability in the self-driving car industry. Senator David Cortese, who recently launched an investigation into the DMV’s regulation of driverless car companies, suggests the creation of a new regulatory agency solely focused on driverless cars and artificial intelligence. The state of California may need to follow the example of the Federal Aviation Administration and establish a dedicated agency to regulate this emerging technology. Efforts to pass new laws around driverless vehicles in California have so far been unsuccessful, but the DMV is working on updating regulations to enhance oversight.

Conclusion:

The recent allegations against Cruise and the ongoing concerns over the safety and accountability of self-driving cars have sparked a debate about the need for new laws and oversight in the industry. While autonomous vehicle companies argue that their technology is already safer than human drivers, critics raise questions about the track record and the need for more extensive testing. The lack of enforcement for traffic violations by autonomous vehicles highlights the need for new regulations to ensure fairness and public safety. Lawmakers and experts are calling for a better understanding of the technology and the development of appropriate oversight mechanisms to strike a balance between innovation and public safety.


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