Story
NHTSA Orders Driverless Car Companies to Fix Failures at Emergency Scenes
Summary
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has identified a "clear pattern" of autonomous vehicles interfering with first responders and has directed companies to promptly address the safety issues.
The head of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has directed self-driving car companies to urgently fix what the agency calls a "clear pattern" of their vehicles interfering with emergency scenes. In a letter to the industry, NHTSA chief Jonathan Morrison highlighted multiple documented instances of autonomous vehicles posing risks to first responders.
According to the agency, the documented failures include driverless cars driving directly into active emergency areas, blocking the paths of ambulances and fire trucks, and failing to properly react to standard safety indicators. These indicators include flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones used to secure a scene.
NHTSA has deemed the situation "unacceptable" and stated it will take action to ensure compliance. The regulatory body plans to schedule meetings with autonomous vehicle developers by the end of the month to review their proposed solutions to the problem.