Can a self-driving car get a ticket? In California, the answer is yes. This week a self-driving car was pulled over in San Francisco and issued a ticket for cutting a pedestrian off in a crosswalk. The vehicle is owned by the GM-owned startup Cruise, which disputes the police account and says they have data proving there was no violation. At the time, the self-driving car had a human test pilot who officially the one ticketed. This marks the first time that a self-driving vehicle has received a ticket, though not the first time one has been pulled over – that distinction goes to a Google vehicle. GM has announced its intention to contest the ticket in court.
This comes at a time when self-driving vehicles are under increased scrutiny over safety concerns. In Tempe, Arizona, a pedestrian was killed in the first fatal autonomous car accident when they were struck by a fully autonomous SUV operated by Uber. Tesla’s program is under fire, too, after a recent deadly crash on a Silicon Valley freeway that occurred when the vehicle was on autopilot. That accident killed the test driver, although initial findings show that human error may have been a contributing factor to the crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been reviewing its rules and regulations on self-driving cars for the past few months. These latest developments prove the need for better standards regarding self-driving vehicles and other artificial intelligence technologies. With better standards and user understanding of these technologies comes a safer world.
