California Approves Expansion of Driverless Robotaxis in San Francisco, But Stalled AVs Cause Traffic Jam
With California having approved the contentious expansion of driverless robotaxis operating in San Francisco, autonomous test vehicles showed their readiness by stalling themselves in the middle of town. The situation reportedly wasn’t the result of local activists trying to disable the vehicles or cyber warfare, but rather the result of their having lost their internet connection for a few minutes.
Stalled AVs Cause Traffic Jam
According to the Los Angeles Times, nearly a dozen driverless vehicles operated by General Motors’ Cruise stopped late Friday night on Vallejo Street in the North Beach bar and restaurant district. Presumably there to snag some riders, the vehicles were unresponsive and ended up blocking traffic on San Francisco’s less-than-ample roads with their hazard lights on.
This left human drivers stuck behind the stalled AVs for roughly fifteen minutes, unable to find a way to get the self-driving vehicles moving again. However, they all suddenly came back to life after their nap and continued on as if nothing had happened.
Controversial Expansion Approved
The situation is loaded with irony, as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently voted to allow a massive robotaxi expansion. The vote allows General Motors-owned Cruise and Waymo, owned by Google’s Alphabet, to charge fares for driverless service and grow the fleet as large as they’d like. Cruise has said it plans eventually to deploy thousands of robotaxis in San Francisco.
City officials in San Francisco, from the mayor’s office down, have been fighting the move, with officials saying the robotaxi industry needs to fix problems that endanger the public first before further expanding the business. The city’s Fire Department has logged more than 55 cases of robotaxis interfering with first responders. Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson has repeatedly said Cruise and Waymo are getting in firefighters’ way and their technology is “not ready for prime time.”
Cellular Carriers Blamed for AV Stall
Aaron Peskin, North Beach’s representative for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, expressed his dismay regarding what might have happened if emergency services needed to get through the area while the vehicles were inoperable and incapable of even pulling off to the side of the road. He also noted that he was inundated with texts and emails where locals had filmed the empty cars blocking traffic.
Peskin reportedly reached out to Cruise government affairs manager Lauren Wilson late on Friday and was informed the following morning that cellular carriers had dropped the ball.
“As I understand it, outside lands impacted LTE cell connectivity and ability for RA advisors to route cars,” Wilson explained to him.
Outside Lands is a three-day music festival held in Golden Gate Park roughly four miles away. High usage at the event apparently left the North Beach without sufficient wireless connectivity and Cruise’s vehicles went dormant as a result.
Calls for Reversal of CPUC Decision
Peskin has said local officials are doing whatever it takes to have the CPUC decision reversed, noting that they are currently discussing whether to seek a court injunction and whether or not to fine the companies whenever an autonomous test vehicle blocks traffic. He also told the outlet that CPUC and Governor Gavin Newsom (who appointed its members) were putting corporate money ahead of public safety.
“Bottom line, this all goes to Gov. Gavin Christopher Newsom,” Peskin explained.
Safety Concerns Surrounding AVs
While most of the incidents being cited by San Franciscan officials tend to be relatively minor, typically involving confused AVs clogging up construction zones or stopping abruptly near intersections. There have been collisions with trucks, buses, and a couple of fatal accidents involving dogs. A Cruise robotaxi even collided with a semi-truck on August 7th, which was just days before the California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve the expansion.
As the debate over the expansion of driverless robotaxis in San Francisco continues, it remains to be seen whether the concerns raised by city officials and residents will be addressed. The recent incident of stalled AVs causing a traffic jam highlights the need for thorough testing and improvements in technology before widespread implementation. Public safety should always be the top priority when it comes to autonomous vehicles, and it is crucial that all stakeholders work together to ensure a smooth and safe transition to a driverless future.
