Update: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted of the "incredibly sad news"...
Some incredibly sad news out of Arizona. We’re thinking of the victim’s family as we work with local law enforcement to understand what happened. https://t.co/cwTCVJjEuz
— dara khosrowshahi (@dkhos) March 19, 2018
* * *
As we detailed earlier, Tempe, Arizona police report that a self-driving Uber vehicle was in autonomous mode when it was involved in a deadly crash overnight.
As ABC15 reports, the crash occurred near Mill Avenue and Curry Road early Monday morning.
The Uber vehicle was reportedly headed northbound when a woman walking outside of the crosswalk was struck.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.
Tempe Police says the vehicle was in autonomous mode at the time of the crash and a vehicle operator was also behind the wheel.
Police added in a statement that the woman’s “next of kin has not been notified yet so her name is not being released at this time. Uber is assisting and this is still an active investigation.”
In a brief statement from an Uber spokesperson, they confirm:
“We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of this incident.”
And Bloomberg reports that Uber will now halt all autonomous car-testing in all cities (including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh).
Two questions come to mind - was the women crossing the road on Facebook at the time (Zuckerberg's fault) and/or was the car hacked by Russia? (Putin's fault).
This is the first pedestrian killed by an autonomous vehicle.
As Tiffany Li - (@tiffanycli) notes, who should be liable for this death? Uber? The car manufacturer? The software programmers? Tech lawyers have debated this question for decades. If this goes to trial, we'll soon have an answer.
Comments
Autonomous cars are so cool and futuristic! Until they run over your kid.
autonomous cars are a disaster waiting to happen!
never ever would i trust my life to a system that runs more than 20 miles an hour designed and marketed by idiots. not because i have no clue about it but because i worked in that industry and designed and wrote code for systems used in cars like these.
In reply to Autonomous cars are so cool… by Vlad the Inhaler
We need self-driving bikes now.
In reply to waitin to happen by Linus2011
I am worried about the autonomous scoops.
https://youtu.be/-wa4U6TQlNI
In reply to We need self driving bikes… by Ghost of Porky
Nice Soylent Green reference.
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
Probably reading Russian bot post on Facebook, on her iphone, using Goolag Glasses...
In reply to Nice Soylent Green reference. by homiegot
For the endgame of all this watch The X-Files Season 11 episode 7: Rm9sbG93ZXJz
In reply to Probably reading Russian bot… by Stackers
Woman claims self-driving Uber struck her car, left the scene
Pittsburgh, Mar 6, 2018
A woman is questioning whether Uber’s self-driving cars are ready for the road after she says one of them struck her vehicle last month.
Jessica Mclemore said she really didn’t' give the test cars too much thought until the night of Feb, 24 when she said one crashed into her car.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/woman-claims-self-driving-uber-str…
In reply to For the endgame of all this… by glenlloyd
Who's dumb enough to let "boober" have full control of a vehicle with you still in it.......that said, it may be a great threat elimination tool for the deep state.
In reply to Woman claims self-driving… by Billy the Poet
"Ban all the assault cars!"
In reply to Who's dumb enough to let … by mtl4
You think people distrust the deep state now, just wait until Dot Gov is using autonomous cars to end the careers of "russian spies" or other individuals it deems to be unsavory.
In reply to "Ban all the assault cars!" by MagicHandPuppet
This will be interesting if the vehicle is found at fault. Who pays?
And, is a pedestrian/bicyclist at 100% fault any time they may not be in a marked area?
In reply to You think people distrust… by 2ndamendment
If you zoom in you can see a very ugly dented right front bumper of the car. The was some impact.
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
I speculate that the vehicle never saw the bicycle and struck it without even slowing down.
I cant wait for autonomous snow plows to hit the road.
In reply to If you zoom in you can see a… by TahoeBilly2012
But, but -- millions of miles driven. Safer than any human driver. Yeah right. Millions of miles AT 15 FUCKING MPH because the computer *brain* had no understanding of the situation.
Morons like Mish think this technology is nearly ready. I believe if honest testing is done these cars are much more dangerous than a teenager texting away.
Joe Pesci in Casino... YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
In reply to I speculate that the vehicle… by IH8OBAMA
How about self-shooting guns? 🔫😧
In reply to del by mkkby
Next thing you know there will be self-voting politicians...self-passing legislation...self-incarcerating prisoners...
In reply to How about self-shooting guns… by J S Bach
Autonomous vehicles can confidently and safely manage every predictable event.
And what were the qualifications of the millennial operator behind the wheel? For sure the technology will get a pass and sunshine is up for vehicular manslaughter.
In reply to Next thing you know there… by kralizec
Chalk this up under the "Who Could Have Seen This Coming?" Column.
I am Chumbawamba.
In reply to Autonomous vehicles can… by RAT005
its only a 35 mph zone in that area which might be just south of the Zoo so it would be interesting to learn if the car was doing the speed limit or not or overridden by the rider.
Its also going to be interesting to learn if the bicyclist veered out of the bicycle lane at the wrong time--early monday morning kind of means 2 am ish so why is a person on a bicycle at 2 AM-and was that person drinking, or exhausted-its far enough north of the college campus. AZ has some tough DUI laws. The article says the person killed was a woman, and hopefullly the question raised is why is a woman riding a bike if indeed its 2AM? Going home from work in Tempe?
Hopefully the truth on this is not buried. Its important for everyone. Lots of questions.
update-the more recent news is the woman was crossing the street from west to east outside the crosswalk and teh car was traveling north. So if it was not at the intersection, and she was not in the crosswalk, and it was 2 AM ish, was she on the bike riding at more than walking speed and if she was at walking speed I would think the car software would recognize that and stop suddenly. With each persons direction, I can understand why at 2 in the AM a driver, automated or not, going north might not see a person or bicyclist crossing from left to right.When I am out at midnight in a not too dense area like this, I really do not expect to see anybody walking or riding a bike.
of course if the car was traveling at the speed limit and the bicyclist appears out of nowhere, good software or not its hard to stop a car suddenly when someone comes out of (seemingly) nowhere.
In reply to I speculate that the vehicle… by IH8OBAMA
Asking why the person was on a bicycle is the wrong question, how is that even germane to the issue of autonomous cars? The right question is why the autonomous car couldn't deal with the situation it was presented without killing someone, that's the question.
Your question suggests you believe that people should be controlled as to when they can go out of the house? Last time I looked we're still a somewhat free country and can go outside at any time we like. Because it was late the cyclist should not have been out there? That's preposterous.
These autonomous vehicles are so good it shouldn't matter if she accidentally veered out of the lane, vehicle should have been able to handle it, otherwise we have a situation where they can't be trusted.
So it'll come down to, "we can't be out of the house after dark because the autonomous cars can't see us?" That's going to be the excuse now? Hilarious!
In reply to its only a 35 mph zone in… by Hal n back
nope--the issue is we have to wait for the facts and details. That area, and I know it, is a wide stretch of roadway and at 2 AM if someone is crossing in the middle of the block and darts out in front of any car its not a good situation.
Yes, the software can and perhaps should catch it but what if the car is traveling at 35 mph and takes 60 feet to stop under any circumstance? Whose fault is it. Why was she not in crosswalk or was she just 1 or 2 feet outside the crosswalk.
Yeah, this is important from many perspectives. I want to know if I or my kids are walking and crossing a street legally and properly, a car will not run amock and hit them. It happens too much as is. Automated cars will not be perfect but should be a measurable improvement.
In reply to Asking why the person was on… by glenlloyd
Autonomous cars work every bit as well as free-energy systems: "just long enough to fool ignorant investors".
In reply to nope--the issue is we have… by Hal n back
+1000. Best summary of the situation I have ever seen.
In reply to Autonomous cars work every… by ThanksChump
'Automated cars will not be perfect but should be a measurable improvement.'
What do you base that judgment upon?
I assume you do have a basis beyond hopium and a great trust in advanced technology?
In reply to nope--the issue is we have… by Hal n back
Autonomous killing machine.
In reply to If you zoom in you can see a… by TahoeBilly2012
yeah that fucking thing got WALLOPED
In reply to If you zoom in you can see a… by TahoeBilly2012
That's going to cost them a whole lot of ubers.
In reply to yeah that fucking thing got… by DipshitMiddleC…
Also no crosswalk lines. If she got hit in a crosswalk, she and her bike must have gotten thrown pretty far. That is probably what killed her. She was probably wearing toeclips, which is why she and her bike never separated.
In reply to If you zoom in you can see a… by TahoeBilly2012
I wonder if the cops gave the tailpipe a breathalyzer test?
In reply to If you zoom in you can see a… by TahoeBilly2012
it would all be ok if the pedestrians were autonomously controlled as well, and they all networked.
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
Looking for an excuse to get us all CHIPPED in the name of progress and safety ?
In reply to it would all be ok if the… by Automatic Choke
He thinks getting assimilated by the Borg sounds like fun.
In reply to Looking for an excuse to get… by Ink Pusher
Pedi actually have the right of way on every road whether they are in proper areas or not
they might get a jaywalking citation but they get millions in the suits
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
Until Uber, Goog, etc. get the law changed.
i.e. Pedestrians must stay in marked walkways or are liable to be injured.
In reply to Pedi actually have the right… by AutoLode
Absolutely false. The car black box and the pedestrians cell phone can determine quite accurately the fault. This woman may have been drunk or under the influence of a substance. She was in violation of the law. In states with comparative negligence, she might win a small settlement. In states with contributory, she would lose period.
Under Arizona's comparative negligence laws, an injured party is allowed to recover even if he or she is 99% at fault. ... Arizona does, however, block any recovery by the plaintiff if he or she intentionally caused or contributed to the injury or death.
A violation of Jay Walking is an intentional action unless the woman was drunk or under the influence, then it could not be "Intentional". Jaywalking is an intentional act. I say she loses and well she should.
In reply to Pedi actually have the right… by AutoLode
What are you some kind of parasite lawyer?
" I say she loses and well she should. "
She is dead, you dipshit.
In reply to Absolutely false. The car… by CashMcCall
Corporate executives need to be jailed for shit like this. Most Americans have been gaslighted to the point they think it is acceptable for these kinds of cases to end with fines and civil damages. The Law requires nothing of the sort. Corporation can't be people if they can't be executed or jailed, but those who run them can.
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
In California you are not allowed to run over pedestrians no matter where they appear on the road.
In San Francisco a bicycle gang (pedal bikes) called critical mass uses this to their advantage to terrorize the driving population. Go to youtube and watch critical mass bikers intentionally trying to get run over and then blame the driver. (well that is if youtube has not censored the videos).
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
I'd have an ax handle in my car at all times.
In reply to In California you are not… by snblitz
The driver (whether human or computer this car has one of each both Uber corp liabilities) and the deepest pockets that enabled that driver, just like all lawsuits. Unless the bicyclist can be shown to be 100% at fault Uber is getting a big bill and no matter what their law firm is getting a big billing opportunity.
In reply to This will be interesting if… by IH8OBAMA
and ...... a driver behind the wheel - so much for alert response when in a jam
can you imagine when ten uber autonomous are in an area, all with a driver besides and they fuck up in a collusion
we need more theater - bring in Mueller to investigate!
In reply to "Ban all the assault cars!" by MagicHandPuppet
They certainly cause more deaths than any 'assault gun'
In reply to "Ban all the assault cars!" by MagicHandPuppet
Police stuffed the jay walking ticket into her pocket as she lay there. Their masters demanded it.
In reply to "Ban all the assault cars!" by MagicHandPuppet
because when people drive they never get into any accidents and kill people. Everyone's comment above me is retarded. And i thought ZH community were self thinkers.
In reply to Who's dumb enough to let … by mtl4
People driving badly is an entirely different subject. What are you a ludite?
In reply to because when people drive… by phatfawzi
Ok here is one for you, when "it" kills a person and "it" is at fault who gets the manslaughter charge? and if it becomes the norm that manslaughter turns into a dollar amount fine why was manslaughter ever a charge that could be levied in the past? and if no "person" can be found at fault why should there be a fine?
Corpocracy wins again.
In reply to because when people drive… by phatfawzi
.. you gotta’ break some eggs…
Or…
Rogue SkyNet/Terminator attack?
In reply to Who's dumb enough to let … by mtl4
An people rolled their eyes at me when I refused to put On Star on my car.
Miffed
In reply to Who's dumb enough to let … by mtl4
Remember to always tip your bot.
In reply to For the endgame of all this… by glenlloyd
Pagination