Cruise Fined $1.5 Million For Failing To Report Robotaxi Crash Involving Pedestrian (theverge.com) 17
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has fined Cruise $1.5 million for failing to disclose that a pedestrian was seriously injured by one of its driverless vehicles in San Francisco last year. The Verge reports: Last October, a Cruise vehicle hit a pedestrian and then dragged her 20 feet after she was initially struck by a human driver in a hit-and-run incident. In the aftermath, Cruise disclosed that its vehicle had struck a pedestrian but omitted details about the victim being dragged. As a result, the California Department of Motor Vehicles pulled the GM-backed company's permit to operate self-driving cars in the state, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into the incident.
Today, NHTSA announced the $1.5 million penalty as part of a broader consent order with Cruise that includes additional requirements around safety and disclosure. The company submitted several "incomplete reports" under the agency's Standing General Order, which requires crash reports to be filed within a certain period of time, depending on their severity. In its first report to NHTSA, filed one day after the incident, Cruise failed to disclose "that the Cruise vehicle had dragged the pedestrian," the consent order reads. The company also filed an additional report 10 days later in which it also failed to disclose the dragging incident.
"It is vitally important for companies developing automated driving systems to prioritize safety and transparency from the start," NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. "NHTSA is using its enforcement authority to ensure operators and manufacturers comply with all legal obligations and work to protect all road users." After its permit was suspended, Cruise hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into what went wrong. The firm's report concluded that the company had tried to send a 45-second video to regulators that showed its vehicle dragging the victim but was hampered by "internet connectivity issues." Also, Cruise employees failed to point out the dragging incident in subsequent conversations with regulators.
Today, NHTSA announced the $1.5 million penalty as part of a broader consent order with Cruise that includes additional requirements around safety and disclosure. The company submitted several "incomplete reports" under the agency's Standing General Order, which requires crash reports to be filed within a certain period of time, depending on their severity. In its first report to NHTSA, filed one day after the incident, Cruise failed to disclose "that the Cruise vehicle had dragged the pedestrian," the consent order reads. The company also filed an additional report 10 days later in which it also failed to disclose the dragging incident.
"It is vitally important for companies developing automated driving systems to prioritize safety and transparency from the start," NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. "NHTSA is using its enforcement authority to ensure operators and manufacturers comply with all legal obligations and work to protect all road users." After its permit was suspended, Cruise hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into what went wrong. The firm's report concluded that the company had tried to send a 45-second video to regulators that showed its vehicle dragging the victim but was hampered by "internet connectivity issues." Also, Cruise employees failed to point out the dragging incident in subsequent conversations with regulators.
connections... (Score:3)
" Cruise hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into what went wrong. The firm's report concluded that the company had tried to send a 45-second video to regulators that showed its vehicle dragging the victim but was hampered by "internet connectivity issues."
Cruise needed to hire a law firm to diagnose a bad Internet connection? Boy that's some high-powered management right there...
Re: (Score:2)
the company had tried to send a 45-second video to regulators that showed its vehicle dragging the victim, but was hampered by "internet connectivity issues."
On whose end? What with the problems our local police force is having with FirstNet [wikipedia.org], I wouldn't be surprised if it was with the cops end. Particularly if it's run by the same goofballs.
Listening to my scanner, it's not uncommon to hear requests to "fax a copy of the report" from the precinct. Since the system is down so much. And a video from an involved party is more than they'd get from a human. It's usually, "I heard a thump. Thought it was a deer."
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Lying to the public isn't a crime. The public is getting mighty full of themselves lately.
Re: connections... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
" Cruise hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into what went wrong. The firm's report concluded that the company had tried to send a 45-second video to regulators that showed its vehicle dragging the victim but was hampered by "internet connectivity issues." Cruise needed to hire a law firm to diagnose a bad Internet connection? Boy that's some high-powered management right there...
Their dog ate the video I think.
Bullshit (Score:1)
Ok, this is just BS by the NHTSA it was all over the news. Literally everyone in San Francisco and the world knew about it. The DMV suspended Cruise license to operate. Nine GM executives resigned over it. These bureaucratic fools dont read the news?
Re: (Score:3)
So you believe companies should have no requirements to disclose information about public safety incidents with experimental products to the regulators of those products, if those events are bad enough to be newsworthy?
This theory will no doubt be very popular with Boeing execs!
Re: (Score:3)
Reading comprehension isn't your strong point, is it? Here is what the article said:
The company submitted several "incomplete reports" under the agency's Standing General Order, which requires crash reports to be filed within a certain period of time, depending on their severity. In its first report to NHTSA, filed one day after the incident, Cruise failed to disclose "that the Cruise vehicle had dragged the pedestrian," the consent order reads. The company also filed an additional report 10 days later in which it also failed to disclose the dragging incident.
In other words, Cruise tried to hide the fact one of their vehicles didn't stop once it hit someone, but continued on for another 20 feet. And not only didn't they report it, they did it twice. But wait, there's more!
Also, Cruise employees failed to point out the dragging incident in subsequent conversations with regulators.
So now we have three times the company failed to report the dragging of a pedestrian. That is essenitally a cover up. The fine is justified. Too bad it's not more.
This isn't just one lie (Score:2)
Even the summary makes clear that Cruise repeatedly lied by omission about the severity of this particular collision with a pedestrian. Several other "incomplete reports" are also mentioned. Does any sensible person doubt that these, too, likely omit details that would cast Cruise in an unfavourable light?
None of this is going to change until corporate executives start paying a real price for their law-breaking. Jail time for board members and laws blocking dividends to shareholders and payment of execut
Save lives (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It's really hard to believe that automated driving is being developed to "save lives" while these companies are so motivated to hide the accidents.
I've long thought that the devices to create automated cars would be better employed on cars as an adjunct to old fashioned meatbag drivers. I have anti collision warning and braking, pedestrian braking - helps with deer as well. Lane assist, and it gives me hell if I try to use it hand free. Which lane assist just ping-pongs back and forth in that case anyhow, so not good for autodriving. adjacent lane warnings that get your attention big time if you try to change lanes with a car in them right nearby.
O
Re: (Score:2)
They definitely aren't "being developed to save lives". That's a desired side-effect. But they are being developed to earn money. This leads to misaligned incentives.
status quo (Score:1)
More evidence that vehicles and their human drivers (when present) are given privileges well beyond anything reasonable in today's society.
The NHTSA is just a bunch of bureaucratic criminals that helps normalize this deadly behavior.
Re: (Score:2)
If I recall this accident, the Cruise vehicle reacted faster than a human would have. Cruise should have reported this, but it wasn't the automated car's fault. An ordinary vehicle hit the pedestrian, who rolled over that car and fell right in front of the Cruise vehicle. If the Cruise vehicle had been a human-driven one, it would have reacted slower and dragged the pedestrian farther.
Look, cars are incredibly dangerous. Self-driving cars are not perfect, but the best ones seem better than human drivers