Monday, March 19, 2018

Self-driving Uber Kills- Soleil


      Not only do we have to worry about real drivers on the road, but now- self automated cars... An Uber SUV hit and killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg as she walked her bicycle across a street in Tempe, Arizona, Sunday night, according to the Tempe police. The department is investigating the crash, but to their knowledge and based on preliminary information, the car was going approximately 40 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to Tempe Police Detective Lily Duran. Police say the investigation does not at this time show significant signs of the SUV slowing before the crash. Quotes from different police members include the following, "The vehicle involved is one of Uber's self-driving vehicles," the Tempe police said in a statement. "It was in autonomous mode at the time of the collision, with a vehicle operator behind the wheel." Autonomous mode means the car is driving on its own. During tests, a person sits behind the wheel as a safeguard. Uber is conducting tests of autonomous vehicles in Arizona, Pittsburgh, Toronto and other areas, and Uber said it has stopped testing the vehicles throughout the United States and Canada. 

   I believe that this is a sad event that has occurred, and although it is scary, it is something that is being improved. This relates to US history, because I am sure that Henry Ford, post car/assembly line production, did not expect this. Self-driving cars, that are turning into murder machines. I hope that they continue to develop this product, to make it safer for everyone- in and on the roads.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/19/technology/uber-autonomous-car-fatal-crash/index.html

3 comments:

  1. I think its so crazy that the woman died even though there was someone behind the wheel. There had to be something else going on for the person to not realize it or maybe the pedestrian did something wrong because for this to happen just seems too crazy. I know that pedestrians are hit and killed sometimes, but the car should have TWO things, a machine and a person, helping it, so nothing this bad should happen.
    Brooke Simpson

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  2. There's definitely a time in the future that could be all self driving cars with no assistance, but to put them out on main roads without testing every possible situation is dangerous.

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  3. I also read about this, and I agree that self-driving cars are pretty crazy and dangerous. There's always the possibility that technology will malfunction, and I feel that this needs to always be kept in mind.

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