Driverless Waymo Car Hits Cyclist in San Francisco, Causes Minor Scratches

(Reuters) – A driverless Waymo automotive collided with a bike owner in San Francisco on Tuesday however the bicyclist suffered solely minor scratches and left the scene on their very own, the corporate mentioned by e mail.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, mentioned it known as the police to the scene and that it was additionally contacting related authorities concerning the incident.

Waymo mentioned its car was at a whole cease at a four-way intersection when a big truck was the intersection. At its flip to proceed, the Waymo automotive moved ahead.

Nonetheless, the bike owner was behind the truck and never seen as they crossed into the Waymo car’s path. When the bike owner was totally seen, the Waymo’s car braked closely, however wasn’t capable of keep away from the collision, the corporate mentioned.

A San Francisco Fireplace Division spokesperson mentioned by e mail {that a} 911 name was made reporting the collision and the bike owner was not transported to the hospital. They mentioned the San Francisco Police Division was investigating the incident.

The San Francisco Police Division and the Division of Motor Automobiles didn’t reply to a Reuters request for remark.

Waymo has sought to broaden its driverless service in Los Angeles, the place it’s now testing rides and permitting new rides solely by invitation.

However robotic automotive corporations have run into resistance from some lawmakers and residents who worry the automobiles are as but unproven and pose a security threat.

GM’s Cruise self-driving automotive unit revealed probes by the U.S. Justice Division and Securities and Change Fee final month, after an accident through which one among its robotaxis struck a pedestrian and dragged her 20 ft.

Final 12 months, greater than two dozen unions urged U.S. auto security regulators to open an industry-wide probe into driverless automobiles, deeming them “unsafe and untenable of their present kind” resulting from a excessive variety of crash incidents.

(Reporting by Disha Mishra in Bengaluru; Extra reporting by Mrinmay Dey and Abhirup Roy; Enhancing by Savio D’Souza)

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