Further, following in line with numerous media reports, the Uber spokesperson then continued to add that it was suspending public road trials in Arizona. The company began services last month in Tempe when the state’s Governor Doug Doucey took the inaugural ride.
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Uber’s fleet of self-driving cars are now in Phoenix, Pittsburgh and San Francisco and all of the cars were pulled off streets by Saturday.
The San Francisco-based startup had a rough beginning when it announced autonomous vehicles would roam the streets of some states of the country.
The company had no comment as to which auto was at fault, saying its investigation into the incident is ongoing. Pittsburgh tests paved the way for later deployments in California and Arizona. The ride-hailing company has been accused of operating a sexist workplace. A spokeswoman told Tech Crunch that Uber’s autonomous auto program – now being tested in Arizona, Pittsburgh and just recently again in San Francisco – has been suspended pending an investigation.
A photo posted on Fresco News’ Twitter feed shows Uber’s self-driving Volvo flipped on its side. Argo was developed by two former Uber engineers. The company’s President Jeff Jones quit earlier this week after less than a year holding the position.
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Other internal problems and technology flaws have caused setbacks in the autonomous program. A Google self-driving vehicle also got in an accident past year, similarly sparking safety concerns. Uber will continue to investigate the accident and should offer additional details later. Uber users were given the option to use a self-driving vehicle by requesting an UberX. Without drivers, the company predicts a combination of cost savings and fewer employee issues will provide a long-term advantage over competitors. Two “safety” drivers were in the front seats of the self-driving vehicle with no passengers in the back seats. Technology enthusiasts believe the number will be reduced significantly as more self-driving vehicles get on the road.
