I Smell a Lawsuit--Car Will be Blamed

[InTheLight]

Self-driving Uber car hits, kills pedestrian in Arizona

Car was autonomous with driver behind wheel

TEMPE, Ariz. - Tempe police are investigating a deadly crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle overnight.

The Uber vehicle was reportedly driving early Monday morning 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. No passengers were in the vehicle at the time.


Self-driving Uber car hits, kills pedestrian in Arizona

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[Reynolds]

Self-driving Uber car hits, kills pedestrian in Arizona

Car was autonomous with driver behind wheel

TEMPE, Ariz. - Tempe police are investigating a deadly crash involving a self-driving Uber vehicle overnight.

The Uber vehicle was reportedly driving early Monday morning 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. No passengers were in the vehicle at the time.


Self-driving Uber car hits, kills pedestrian in Arizona

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Of course one needs all the facts to make a judgment. From the limited information, seems the pedestrian was in violation of the law and at fault.
In a crosswalk, the pedestrian has right of way. Outside crosswalk, pedestrian must yield right of way. Obviously someone did not yield right of way and it seems the obligation to yield was that of the pedestrian.

 

[JonC]

"nothing here, just lights and clockwork. Go ahead, you trust 'em if you want to." - Detective Del Spooner

 

[777]

I thought the car was supposed to stop with sensors but who is liable do you think? The driver less car's owner? The car manufacturer? Uber?

 

[TCassidy]

who is liable do you think?

Whoever has the deepest pockets.

 

[Deacon]

According to Asimov's first law of robotics the fault lies with the autonomous vehicle.

Rob

 

[Salty]

Of course one needs all the facts to make a judgment. From the limited information, seems the pedestrian was in violation of the law and at fault.
In a crosswalk, the pedestrian has right of way. Outside crosswalk, pedestrian must yield right of way. Obviously someone did not yield right of way and it seems the obligation to yield was that of the pedestrian.

Not exactly - in a crosswalk - the pedestrian is to be GIVEN the right of way. A pedestrian should not blindly cross a street at the crosswalk - He needs to look both ways as he crosses. In addition, IMHO - it should be against the law for a pedestrian to talk on the phone (hands held or hands free) while crossing a street!
What this amounts to is that no one has the right of way - UNTIL it is given to you.
It would be similar to going thur a green light - if someone was running a red light - and you hit him, you could be at fault for not clearing the intersection. Or as I like to call it -- "Y-Was" -- Yield while anticipating Stupidity. For example - Why Was he running the red light.....

Yes, outside the crosswalk - the pedestrian is to yield the right of way - However, it should be noted that it is legal to jaywalk in NY State - except for New York City.

 

[Reynolds]

Not exactly - in a crosswalk - the pedestrian is to be GIVEN the right of way. A pedestrian should not blindly cross a street at the crosswalk - He needs to look both ways as he crosses. In addition, IMHO - it should be against the law for a pedestrian to talk on the phone (hands held or hands free) while crossing a street!
What this amounts to is that no one has the right of way - UNTIL it is given to you.
It would be similar to going thur a green light - if someone was running a red light - and you hit him, you could be at fault for not clearing the intersection. Or as I like to call it -- "Y-Was" -- Yield while anticipating Stupidity. For example - Why Was he running the red light.....

Yes, outside the crosswalk - the pedestrian is to yield the right of way - However, it should be noted that it is legal to jaywalk in NY State - except for New York City.

Having the right of way is a matter of legality.

 

[just-want-peace]

Not knowledgeable about the physics/electronics involved here, BUT assuming all sensors were operable, even they need time to react to a situation. If, IF, this woman was distracted (???) so that she was just moving robotically, it's not inconceivable that she just stepped off the curb directly into the path of the vehicle; and anymore distraction is a very distinct possibility!
Did the system fail and the human back-up was distracted, or would any driver under these identical circumstances have been unable to respond quickly enough??
Lotsa questions before truth is known!!

 

[Salty]

Having the right of way is a matter of legality.

Exactly - and according to NY State Law - (and I would assume many other states/commonwealth
as well) NO one has the right of way - until it is given to you.

 

[Reynolds]

Exactly - and according to NY State Law - (and I would assume many other states/commonwealth
as well) NO one has the right of way - until it is given to you.

Who knows what that really means? What I can tell you through working hundreds of motor vehicle accidents, is that in Georgia traffic control devices determine right of way. A motor vehicle or pedestrian which legally does not have right of way can not give it to the person who legally has it. Its called defacto guilt. If you fail to yield right of way to the person who is legally entitled to right of way, the MVA is the fault of the one who failed to yield. Of course other factors could come onto play. If a car were doing 65 in a 25 and a car pulled out of a blind driveway, etc. etc.

 

[InTheLight]

Video of accident here:

 

[Jerome]

Article from just three weeks ago:

theverge.com/2018/3/2/17071284/arizona-self-driving-car-governor-executive-order

"Arizona governor Doug Ducey issued a new executive order on Thursday that makes official what many already assumed: fully driverless cars without anyone behind the wheel are allowed to operate on public roads. The only caveat is that the vehicles follow all existing traffic laws and rules for cars and drivers. 'As technology advances, our policies and priorities must adapt to remain competitive in today’s economy,' Ducey said in a statement."

"Arizona is a hotbed of autonomous vehicle testing, with over 600 self-driving cars operating on public roads in the state today. Both Waymo and Intel are testing their autonomous cars in Chandler, while Uber and GM’s respective vehicles can be seen on the roads in and around Scottsdale. Waymo is already operating its fully driverless minivans on public roads"

"Ducey’s move to codify his state’s permissive policies to autonomous vehicle testing comes a few days after California announced that it would permit fully driverless cars to operate on its roads starting in April....There is an intense competition between both states for self-driving car companies. Arizona has fewer regulations...California requires companies obtain a permit and submit annual reports on software disengagements. Arizona requires zero public disclosures."

 

[777]

Well, it looks like the driver looked up at the very last minute. Incredible how lame Uber is:

Operator of self-driving Uber had a history of traffic violations | Daily Mail Online

the woman he ran over had a history of drug arrests, but the car's sensors should have sensed and the "operator" should have never been hired with that record. Uber is a pathetic company.

 

[InTheLight]

Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir has told the San Francisco Chronicle that the SUV likely wouldn’t be found at fault. But two experts who viewed the video told The Associated Press that the SUV’s laser and radar sensors should have spotted Herzberg and her bicycle in time to brake.

“The victim did not come out of nowhere. She’s moving on a dark road, but it’s an open road, so Lidar (laser) and radar should have detected and classified her” as a human, said Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who studies autonomous vehicles.

Smith said the video may not show the complete picture, but “this is strongly suggestive of multiple failures of Uber and its system, its automated system, and its safety driver.”

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Told ya the car would be found at fault.

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