Skip to content
Finance — Investing — Tech's Latest Innovations — Introducing Cutting-Edge AI Technology — Unveil the Latest Gadgets — policy-and-legislation — car-accidents — Politics — general-news — Crime-and-justice — Accidents

Consumer Watchdog Warns Against Unlimited Expansion of Waymo, Cruise Robotaxis in San Francisco

Safety risks and financial pressures prompt concerns. CPUC urged to address data reporting before voting.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
This is a presentation and here we can see vehicles on the road and we can see some text written.
This is a presentation and here we can see vehicles on the road and we can see some text written.

Consumer Watchdog Warns Against Unlimited Expansion of Waymo, Cruise Robotaxis in San Francisco

Consumer Watchdog has raised serious concerns about the proposed unlimited expansion of Waymo and Cruise robotaxi services in San Francisco. The organisation warns that approving this expansion would set a dangerous precedent for other cities like Los Angeles.

Waymo and Cruise currently operate with restrictions, such as a safety driver present for Waymo. However, Consumer Watchdog argues that these vehicles pose significant safety risks. They point out that Waymo's collision rate is 1.3 times higher than the national average for human-driven vehicles. Moreover, both companies have had over 240 reported incidents this year, including abrupt stops and wrong signals, which could impede emergency responders.

The financial viability of these companies is also called into question. Cruise, for instance, has not turned a profit in its 10-year existence and has lost over $1 billion this year alone. Despite this, it expects to make $1 billion in revenue by 2025. Consumer Watchdog expresses concern that this financial pressure could lead to a rush for regulatory approval.

Adding to these concerns, a voting member of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), John Reynolds, who previously worked as a lawyer for Cruise, is urged to recuse himself from the vote. The CPUC is also urged to address data reporting requirements before voting on expansion, as current resolutions do not mention the reported incidents.

Consumer Watchdog urges the CPUC to vote against the unlimited expansion of Waymo and Cruise robotaxi services in San Francisco. They argue that approving this expansion would be unsafe and sets a concerning precedent for other cities. The CPUC is advised to address these concerns and ensure robust data reporting before making a decision.

Read also:

Related

Latest