The Hill Opinion – Autonomous vehicles should have to pass a driver’s test, just like anyone else
The Hill Opinion piece on how autonomous vehicle systems should have to pass a drivers test. The current lack of regulations is simply not appropriate.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Safety
All the robotaxi companies claim that their safety is much better than obsolete human drivers. But are they really safer given that they seem to crash so often? This clearly needs to be investigated further.
Read MoreThe Hill Opinion – Autonomous vehicles should have to pass a driver’s test, just like anyone else
SF Chronicle – Waymos are getting more assertive. Why the driverless taxis are learning to drive like humans
SF Chronicle reports on how autonomous Waymos are starting to pick up all the bad habits of human drivers.
Jalopnik – Tesla Running So-Called ‘Full Self-Driving’ Software Splatters ‘Child’ In School Bus Test
Jalopnik reports that the safety of Tesla FSD was once again tested. This time the Tesla on FSD drove right past a stopped school bus with its Stop sign extended and red lights flashing, and then proceeded to identify a dummy as a pedestrian yet hit it at full speed anyways. FSD is simply not a viable autonomous driving system. And Tesla is completely unprepared to run a robotaxi syndrome system.
NY Times – Driverless Semi Trucks Are Here, With Little Regulation and Big Promises
NY Times reports that driverless trucks are starting in Texas, but with very little oversight. And it must be noted that Aurora has reverted to having human drivers as backups, which ensures that there will be no cost saving for now.
Fortune – Questions swirl as Tesla nears Austin launch day for high stakes driverless robotaxi launch
Fortune reports on how Tesla is supposed to launch their robotaxi system in Austin in June, yet they lack the fundamental technology to operate autonomous vehicles. Surely they will simply be using human drivers in what is basically an absurdly expensive ride hailing scheme.
electrek – Tesla Full Self-Driving veers off road, flips car in scary crash driver couldn’t prevent
electrek reports on how a 2025 Tesla in (Non) Full Self-Driving mode suddenly veered off the road for no reason. And Tesla is supposed to start a robotaxi service in June???
Dallas Morning News – Aurora adds human driver back to Texas truck route
Dallas Morning News reports that Aurora has had to add backup drivers for their autonomous trucks due to safety concerns. Appears that autonomous trucks are not going to live up to their cost saving hype given that they need both a driver and really expensive technology.
electrek – Tesla’s robotaxi fleet will be powered by ‘plenty of teleoperation’
electrek also reports how Tesla robotaxis will actually be teleoperated. And it must be noted that teleoperation of cars simply is not safe.
CNBC – Waymo recalls 1,200 self-driving vehicles after minor collisions
CNBC reports of another recall of Waymo robotaxis. This time the problem was that they drove into chains, gates, and other roadway barriers, situations that would have been easily avoided by human drivers.
SF Chronicle – A Zoox and an e-bike collided in S.F. Here’s what it says about robotaxi safety
SF Chronicle reports on how there was a collision between an e-bike and a Zoox robotaxi. This resulted in the Zoox robotaxis being recalled.
electrek – NHTSA asks Tesla how it plans to release its robotaxi service based on FSD
electrek reports the list of questions the NHTSA is asking about Tesla's alleged robotaxi system. The issue is that it is based on FSD, but FSD is know to be inadequate and dangerous.
Eyewitness News 7 – Tesla in autopilot crashes into van parked in driveway, driver ticketed for careless driving
Eyewitness News 7 reports that a Tesla in autopilot mode crashed into a vehicle parked off the street and in a driveway right in front of a house. The driver was blamed. But who is going to be blamed when Tesla robotaxis screw up and crash???
TechCrunch – Amazon-owned Zoox issues recall following robotaxi crash
TechCrunch reports on a Zoox robotaxi that crashed into another car in Las Vegas. It was fully the fault of the Zoox automated driving system. As a result all their robotaxis had to be recalled.
Scientific American – Self-Driving Cars Have New Rules in the U.S. Here’s Why That Matters
Scientific American reports that the DoT has changed AV rules for Level 2 vehicles (Tesla FSD, but not Waymo) so that fewer safety incidents need to be reported. Three reporting regulations were also eased: whether the car had been driven in conditions in which it was designed to operate; a plain-language description of the circumstances of the crash; and the version of automated self-driving software that was in use.
electrek – Waymo says its robotaxis are up to 25x safer for pedestrians and cyclists
electrek reports on Waymo's press release where they claim that their robotaxis are much safer. The problem is, safety isn't about making safer cars. It is instead about road design and reducing car use.
