Uber’s self-driving fleet is getting back on the road after a temporary suspension.
The ride-hailing company said Monday that its vehicles have hit the streets in San Francisco, where they are mapping the city but not picking up paying passengers. It expects to resume its self-driving car service for passengers in Arizona and Pittsburgh soon, though a spokeswoman did not say exactly when that would be.
Uber temporarily suspended the program after one of its self-driving SUVs was involved in a serious accident in Tempe, Arizona. on Friday evening. The Volvo XC90 was in self-driving mode at the time when it was struck and overturned, but there were no passengers in the backseat and no serious injuries were reported. The collision occurred when another vehicle failed to yield, according to police.
Though reports indicate the Uber vehicle was not at fault, the accident raises questions about how self-driving cars will share the road with human drivers. Enthusiasts expect they will ultimately lead to fewer traffic accidents and fatalities, though there is expected to be a long period of transition as humans remain behind the wheel.
(c) 2017, The Washington Post ยท Steven Overly
