Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Cars, being fast moving and heavy, are quite dangerous. They should be well regulated for safety. But it turns out regulations can be bought and paid for by lobbying money…
The Register reports that the California DMV is not at all happy with Tesla's marketing the "Autopilot" system. They have found Tesla to be in violation. If they do not update their marketing materials within 60 days they will be suspended from sales in California for 30 days.
TechCrunch reports on how complaints on Tesla's behaving dangerously just keep on piling up.
TechCrunch reports on how NHTSA is now investigating 19 cases where a Waymo illegally passed a stopped school bus. 19 times!
KQED reports that San Francisco is planning on letting all commercial vehicles on "car-free" Market Street based on completely flawed testing.
CBS Austin reports video evidence of Waymo vehicles illegally passing school buses 19 times. Further evidence that Waymo vehicles simply are not designed to follow traffic safety laws.
While the title is correct, we do need to change course, the opinion piece is just another tech fantasy. The truth is that the data show that the solution for safety is clearly better designed streets and better safety policies. Simply look at Europe to see how safety can be greatly improved through street design, not robotaxis.
The Driverless Digest reports on that based on CPUC data that Waymo vehicles are empty (deadheading) for almost half of miles driven.
NY Times reports on how there are more and more robotaxis, and they take a ride on a Zoox.
SF Chronicle reports on on Supervisor Jackie Fielder of San Francisco is trying to push for state legislation to allow local control of robotaxis. This was motivated by Waymo killing a beloved bodega cat.
TechCrunch covers how Waymo wants to arrest people who vandalize Waymo vehicles. Meanwhile they kill pets with impunity.
The Lever reports that a regulator, who is more interested in promoting rather than regulating AVs, has been appointed as the new head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
ArsTechnica reports on how Tesla FSD has actually been performing worse lately. And the NHTSA opens up a new investigation due to numerous reports of FSD traffic violations.
Reuters reports that NHTSA is once again investigating problems with the Tesla FSD system, this time due to numerous reported traffic violations and crashes.
kGW8 reports that once again, Waymos simply do not follow laws. This time it passed a school bus that had its stop sign out and lights obviously flashing red.
SF Chronicle reports that since a Waymo robotaxi made an illegal U-turn it was pulled over by the police. Unfortunately robotaxis cannot be given tickets currently.
