It was widely reported, including with graphic video, that a pedestrian in Arizona was recently struck and killed by an Uber self-driving automobile in the testing stage. A secondary story to emerge from this tragedy has been questions about the overall safety of self-driving cars. Some companies have temporarily suspended the testing of their autonomous vehicles. Arizona put the brakes on allowing Uber to test such vehicles on public roads.

For the past several years predictions have abounded that widespread use of self-driving automobiles is on the horizon. These vehicles promise numerous safety features. While automobile manufacturers long-ago conquered cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring is an impressive innovation, I’m dubious that drivers will ever be playing Yahtzee on the way to work. In two centuries nobody has been able to eliminate train derailments. And they ride on a track, and usually with no other trains nearby.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]