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.

SF Chronicle – Newsom sides with autonomous vehicle companies, vetoes safety regulations

SF Chronicle reports that Newsom puts the interest of big corporate donors above safety. He vetoed bills that would have required human operators on large trucks. He also vetoed simple yet effective reporting requirements so that the public would actually be able to know how safe autonomous are (what are they hiding??). And to make things even worse, he signed a bill that exempts robotaxi companies from receiving tickets when their vehicles do something dangerous.

Read MoreSF Chronicle – Newsom sides with autonomous vehicle companies, vetoes safety regulations

SF Chronicle – Cruise restarts tests for driverless cars in Bay Area nearly a year after San Francisco accident

SF Chronicle reports that Cruise is gearing up for a return to the Bay Area. Note that they are not actually returning, but just "gearing up" to do so. If Cruise considers this feeble attempt newsworthy then they are indeed in deep trouble.

Read MoreSF Chronicle – Cruise restarts tests for driverless cars in Bay Area nearly a year after San Francisco accident

404 Media – Delivery Robot Knocked Over Pedestrian, Company Offered ‘Promo Codes’ to Apologize

404 Media reports on how one of their delivery robots caused a pedestrian to be knocked down and injured. The company offered Promo Codes to make it all better. Meanwhile, they are pursuing felony charger against a couple of drunk students who temporarily snatched one of their robots.

Read More404 Media – Delivery Robot Knocked Over Pedestrian, Company Offered ‘Promo Codes’ to Apologize

SF Examiner – Waymo says it used input from SF leaders to create new safety dashboard

SF Examiner reports on the new Waymo "safety" dashboard, which is basically just company propaganda. If Waymo was actually interested safety then they would pivot to providing cost effective driver assist technology. And they would instead alternative forms of transit, and of course, better road design.

Read MoreSF Examiner – Waymo says it used input from SF leaders to create new safety dashboard

Washington Post – Cars may soon warn speeders to slow down. Will Americans listen?

Washington Post reports on California legislation that would require vehicles built after 2030 to warn drivers when they are speeding. Even though this would obviously improve safety, it is being fought against by automobile manufactures and the constitutional right to recklessly speed community. But if safety is the goal, this type of technology would make much more of a difference than robotaxis, given it would apply to all new cars.

Read MoreWashington Post – Cars may soon warn speeders to slow down. Will Americans listen?

SF Examiner – California ban on driverless trucks heads to Newsom’s desk — again

SF Examiner reports that the California state Legislature has once again approved requiring vehicles over 10,000 to have a human operator on board. It is now up to Gov Newsom to sign the legislation. But given his love of lobbyists he will most likely veto it for the second time.

Read MoreSF Examiner – California ban on driverless trucks heads to Newsom’s desk — again

Jalopnik – Tesla Semi Battery Pack Bursts Into Flames And Spews Toxic Fumes After Crash

Tesla trucks were supposed to be so clean and amazing. But Jalopnik reports that of the very few of them out on our roads, one of them crashed and caught fire, spewing toxic fumes and closing I-80 for many hours. Tesla is clearly incapable of providing something as complicated as a safe robotaxi system.

Read MoreJalopnik – Tesla Semi Battery Pack Bursts Into Flames And Spews Toxic Fumes After Crash

Wall Street Journal – The Hidden Autopilot Data That Reveals Why Teslas Crash

Wall Street Journal created two fascinating videos showing how investigators were able to obtain hidden Autopilot videos showing why Teslas have crashed. This is information that Tesla has tried to keep hidden, but hackers to the rescue. Tesla not using LiDAR sensors has been a deadly mistake.

Read MoreWall Street Journal – The Hidden Autopilot Data That Reveals Why Teslas Crash