Self-Driving Shuttle Not to Blame for Crash
December 13, 2017Las Vegas is a place where people from all over the world come to escape reality and enjoy the food, the casinos, the fabulous entertainment, and now, the technology. A new self-driving shuttle bus was recently released in Sin City, but unfortunately, the shuttle was involved in a minor car accident just hours after its launch. Surprisingly—or not—it was human error that led to the crash.
The Event
The wreck involved the autonomous shuttle bus and a delivery truck. Fortunately, no one was injured and police confirmed that the driver of the truck was at fault. In fact, a city official was quoted as saying that the self-driving shuttle did exactly what it was supposed to do to avoid an accident.
The vehicle’s electronic sensors registered the truck and stopped to avoid a collision with the truck. Unfortunately, the truck struck the front fender of the shuttle after the driver failed to slow down. If the truck had been equipped with similar sensing technology, the accident could have been avoided.
Perception of Autonomous Vehicles
Self-driving cars seem to be the wave of the future. However, according to a J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Tech Choice Study, many consumers do not trust the technology. It is one of the main challenges that companies like Tesla, Volkswagen, and Google face when it comes to introducing these vehicles to the general public. Automobile manufacturers and tech companies continue to work on developing safe, user-friendly, dependable autonomous vehicles that can make better judgments than humans.
Shuttle Specifics
The new autonomous shuttle bus, which can carry up to 12 passengers at a time, has no steering wheel and no brake pedals. Instead, is has an attendant and a computer monitor. Developed by French company, Navya, the shuttle uses a GPS system, electronic curb sensors, and other technology to navigate the city streets. The vehicle was tested in January and launched in early November in Las Vegas.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Victims Injured in Self-Driving Vehicle Accidents
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident involving a self-driving vehicle or a negligent driver, contact a Baltimore car accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We will fight to hold the vehicle manufacturer or liable party responsible for your injuries. To set up a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.