GM has decided to suspend its nationwide driverless car service after California revoked its permits for testing and operating fully autonomous vehicles in the state. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) cited Cruise, GM's self-driving technology subsidiary, for not disclosing video and information related to an incident in which a pedestrian was hit by a different vehicle and subsequently dragged by a Cruise car. The decision to pause driverless operations extends to all cities where the service was available.
Cruise, in a statement, explained that this pause is a proactive step to reevaluate their processes, systems, and tools with a focus on enhancing public trust and safety. The company clarified that the decision was not prompted by any recent on-road incidents but rather a commitment to risk mitigation and safety.
While the fully autonomous ride-hailing service will be on hold, Cruise will continue "supervised AV operations," indicating rides with a human backup driver prepared to take control in emergencies. These fully driverless services are a fundamental part of GM's long-term strategy to transition from vehicle sales to ride services. GM claims that its driverless vehicles are safer than those operated by humans, citing a study that suggests autonomous cars are less likely to be involved in accidents and injuries.
However, the move to suspend operations is in response to recent issues, including an incident where a pedestrian was critically injured by a Cruise vehicle and dragged along the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into the safety of driverless vehicles around pedestrians. There have also been reports of Cruise vehicles causing traffic jams by coming to a halt and blocking intersections in San Francisco.
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