On February 7, a Waymo car, operating without a driver, collided with a cyclist in San Francisco. Fortunately, the injuries were minor. The incident is now under review by the state's auto regulator.
Waymo, which is Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, informed on Tuesday that they promptly called the police to the scene. Additionally, the company is reaching out to relevant authorities to report the incident.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is currently looking into the matter. In an email to Reuters on Wednesday, the DMV stated that they have no further comments at this time.
Waymo explained that its vehicle was stationary at a four-way intersection. When a large truck crossed the intersection in its direction, the Waymo car began to move forward as it was its turn to proceed. However, a cyclist, who was hidden behind the truck, unexpectedly turned left into the path of the Waymo vehicle. Despite the Waymo car braking heavily when the cyclist became fully visible, a collision was unavoidable, according to the company's statement.
A spokesperson from the San Francisco Fire Department confirmed that a 911 call was made reporting the collision. Fortunately, the cyclist did not require hospitalization. The San Francisco Police Department is currently investigating the incident.
Waymo has been working to expand its driverless service in Los Angeles, where it is currently conducting tests and offering rides by invitation only. However, companies developing autonomous vehicles have faced opposition from some lawmakers and citizens who express concerns about the safety of these vehicles.
Last month, GM's Cruise self-driving car unit faced investigations by the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission after an accident involving one of its robotaxis striking a pedestrian. The incident raised questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles.
In the past year, over two dozen unions urged U.S. auto safety regulators to conduct an industry-wide investigation into driverless vehicles. They argued that these vehicles, in their current form, are considered "unsafe and untenable" due to a significant number of crash incidents.
As the investigation into the Waymo incident unfolds, it adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles on the road.