US authorities investigate fatal accident involving self-driving car
News that an autonomous Uber test car driving in Tempe, Arizona (USA) was involved in a fatal accident has lead to concerns about safety, liability, and insurance issues around autonomous cars. At the time of the crash, the car was in an autonomous mode, while also having a safety driver on board (as required by US regulations). Following the incident, Uber suspended its testing operations across all cities where it operated, while cooperating with authorities in their investigations. The US Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced its involvement in the investigation, together with local authorities. According to the chief of police in Tempe,’preliminary it appears that the Uber would likely not be at fault in this accident’, as the pedestrian ‘came from the shadows right into the roadway’ and ‘it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any mode. Earlier media reports were stating that the car did not show significant signs of slowing down when the incident occurred.