Waymo Says Human Driver Would’ve Been Worse as Driverless Car Hits Child
Oh boy, a driverless Waymo car is under fire for messing up again. This time, a car hit a child at an elementary school. However, the company claims that if a human were driving, the accident would have been worse.
Waymo claims a human driver would be worse as an EV hits child
Not again! A Waymo driverless car messes up again. This time, instead of clogging up traffic by getting stuck in an intersection or passing a school bus, the electric vehicle struck a child.
An autonomous vehicle hit a child near a California elementary school. It was in Santa Monica without a safety operator inside. Now the company is involved in a new federal investigation.
During the incident, the vehicle was operating on the 5th Generation Automated Driving System during normal school hours. In an area with a crossing guard and other children, one kid suddenly ran out from behind a double-parked SUV.
The child was struck by the Waymo car and suffers from minor injuries. But according to CarComplaints, the company thinks the accident would have been worse without self-driving technology. This is because the child suddenly appeared and ran out in front of the EV.
The company shares, “A fully attentive human driver in this same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph.”
But the EV detected the individual immediately as it emerged from behind the stopped vehicle and initiated full braking. Its speed was reduced from 17 mph to under six mph before contact was made.
After being hit, the child stood up and walked to the sidewalk as the vehicle called 911. But one could argue that human drivers wouldn’t have been driving through a school zone that fast with other children visibly crossing the street.
