Fatal Incidents
Tempe, Arizona (2018)
An Uber self-driving test vehicle struck and killed Elaine Herzberg, 49, as she walked her bicycle across a street at night. This marked the first recorded pedestrian fatality involving an autonomous vehicle.
- The safety driver was streaming video on her phone at the time
- Investigation revealed the system detected Herzberg 6 seconds before impact
- The vehicle's emergency braking systems were disabled
- Led to major changes in Uber's testing protocols
Mountain View, California (2018)
Apple engineer Walter Huang died when his Tesla Model X on Autopilot crashed into a highway barrier. The incident highlighted the limitations of driver assistance systems.
- Vehicle was in Autopilot mode at time of crash
- Driver had previously reported issues with Autopilot in that location
- NTSB investigation revealed multiple factors including system limitations
System Failures and Close Calls
San Francisco Cruise Incidents (2023)
Multiple incidents involving Cruise robotaxis led to the suspension of their operating permit:
- Vehicle dragged a pedestrian 20 feet after collision
- Multiple vehicles blocked emergency vehicles
- Cars stopped unexpectedly, causing traffic problems
- System-wide failures during fog and rain
Phoenix Waymo Challenges (2023)
Waymo vehicles faced numerous challenges in Phoenix:
- Multiple vehicles confused by traffic cones
- Unexpected stops during dust storms
- Navigation issues in construction zones
Emergency Response Challenges
First Responder Concerns
Emergency services have reported numerous challenges with autonomous vehicles:
- Vehicles not recognizing emergency vehicle signals
- Blocking access to emergency scenes
- Confusion at accident sites
- Difficulty in communicating with remote operators
Weather-Related Challenges
Environmental Challenges
Documented cases of autonomous vehicles struggling with weather conditions:
- Heavy rain causing sensor failures in Miami
- Snow covering sensors in Detroit
- Fog disrupting lidar systems in San Francisco
- Sun glare affecting cameras in Phoenix