Although Google is not required to release videos of their crashes, the bus company released video showing how the Google Lexus caused the sidewipe of the bus on Valentine’s Day this year. Consumers would be better served if Google also released their video says Consumer Watchdog.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority concluded based on the footage that the bus driver was not responsible, spokeswoman Stacey Hendler Ross told the Associated Press.
Consumer Watchdog today demanded that Google release its own video of one of its self-driving robot car crashing into a transit bus.
Consumer Watchdog also reiterated its call to the California DMV to amend its regulations and require that police investigate all self-driving robot car crashes and that video and technical details of the incidents be made public.
“Google is using our public roads as their private laboratory,” said Simpson. “When something goes wrong, they need to release everything. It’s the morally right thing to do even if it’s not yet required.”
California law requires that self-driving vehicles being tested in the state have a driver behind a steering wheel and brake pedal, capable of taking control when necessary. The DMV has just proposed regulations covering the general use of self-driving cars in the state, and continues the requirement that a driver be behind the steering wheel capable of taking control. Google is opposing the requirement.
Consumer Watchdog said that Google’s own test results demonstrate the need for a driver who can intervene. A required report filed with the DMV showed the self-driving robot car technology failed 341 times during the reporting period. The self-driving technology could not cope and turned over control 272 times, while the test driver felt compelled to intervene 69 times.
