Cruise Suspends Driverless Operations, Waymo Pushes Ahead

Autonomous car company Cruise is suspending all of it driverless operations in the wake of a federal investigation and the loss of their permits in California, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive. “Cruise said it would continue to offer supervised AV rides — those with a human driver on board.”

Meanwhile, Uber announced it is now offering fully autonomous rides through Waymo in Phoenix, Arizona. Waymo is operating in San Francisco as well. “According to reports by each company to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Cruise autonomous vehicles have been involved in 39 collisions this year, and as of Oct. 6, Waymo reported 46 autonomous vehicle collisions in the same period.”

In a statement, the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) supported California’s decision to suspend Cruise licenses, stating, “This latest incident underscores the need for clear national standards for testing this still-nascent technology.” According to NACTO, “The federal government, in partnership with cities and states, must craft AV policy that is forward-thinking, holistic, and focused on safety, equity and sustainability. By creating strong safety standards, the federal government can lay the foundation for a safe, people-focused transportation system in which autonomous vehicles exist alongside transit, bike and pedestrian infrastructure.”