Waymohas made headlines once again with five of its self-driving Jaguar I-Pace crossovers causing a traffic jam on a residential street in San Francisco due to thick fog. Four of the vehicles stopped on the first lane, while one parked in the center lane, frustrating morning commuters.
The vehicles began moving again once the fog cleared, which took several minutes. Waymo’s spokesperson stated that the company plans to release software updates to improve their fog and parking performance to prevent similar situations in the future.
The incident highlights the lack of systemic data available to regulatory agencies regarding autonomous vehicles’ impact on traffic and safety hazards. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesperson, Stephen Chun, explained that no regulatory agency requires the reporting of data on driverless AVs that obstruct traffic or create safety hazards.
He added that state and federal regulators should collect data to measure autonomous vehicle driving’s positive and negative effects on streets before expanding operations into peak travel hours.
Although Waymo’s vehicles usually have a backup driver, the company applied for a permit in December 2022 to sell fully autonomous rides in San Francisco, like its competitor, Cruise. This incident emphasizes the need for more reliable autonomous vehicles and regulatory measures to ensure their safe operation on public roads.
As the autonomous vehicle industry grows, it is essential to address concerns about their impact on traffic and safety. The incident with Waymo’s self-driving vehicles in San Francisco highlights the need for regulatory agencies to collect data on autonomous vehicle operations to ensure safe and efficient driving on public roads. The development of reliable autonomous vehicles and effective regulations will be crucial to the industry’s growth and success.
