California Tells Uber to Cease Autonomous Tests in San Francisco

Uber yesterday formally launched its test fleet of autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, and so far the program is already off to a rough start. For starters, one vehicle was caught on camera running a red light (video below), and California is ordering Uber to cease the test program until it obtains a permit.

The Associated Press reports that California regulators have sent Uber a letter demanding the company to cease testing or face legal action. California requires a permit for public testing of autonomous cars which the state defines as vehicles capable of driving “without the active physical control or monitoring of a natural person.”

State regulators yesterday released a statement pointing out that “twenty manufacturers have already obtained permits to test hundreds of cars on California roads” and Uber “shall do the same.”

According to the California DMV “Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program Application Checklist,” applicants must show proof of insurance covering at least $5 million and a list of vehicles and drivers involved in the test program. The permit costs $150 annually and covers up to 10 vehicles and 20 drivers. Participants are also required to report “disengagement” incidents, providing details of any occurrence that caused the driver or operator to intervene while the vehicle was in autonomous mode.

Uber argues it can sidestep the permit because its fleet of autonomous Volvo XC90 crossovers requires a human in the driver seat in order to operate and monitor the vehicle. The company said California should take a “pro technology” stance and avoid complex rules that could hamper innovation.

Uber launched the autonomous fleet in San Francisco following similar tests in Pittsburgh. The autonomous vehicles are available to Uber customers who use the ridesharing app’s UberX service, and each car is driven or monitored by a technician.

Meanwhile, a YouTube video certainly doesn’t help Uber’s case. Dashcam footage published yesterday captures one of Uber’s XC90’s (equipped with its autonomous tech hardware and decals) running a red light and through a busy crosswalk in San Francisco. No one was hurt. Buzzfeed published Uber’s response to the video, and the company claims the incident was due to human error, not its autonomous driving tech.

Source: AP

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