ATU International President put out the following statement in reaction to the fatal accident in involving a pedestrian hit by a self-driving Uber car.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the pedestrian killed by a self-driving Uber car in Phoenix.
“When it comes to self-driving vehicles, states and the federal government are turning their backs on regulations and issuing a rubber stamp for autonomous vehicles without regard to the safety of the public.
“Allowing experimental self-driving technology to be tested on city streets is reckless and dangerous and not the answer for ending traffic fatalities. We need to quit using the public as the crash-test dummies. These systems are not ready to deal with the chaotic elements of our roads, traffic, vagaries of weather and other conditions.
“We call for a rewriting of the Senate bill, AV START Act S. 1885, which would regulate autonomous vehicle testing. It is essentially a ‘carte blanche' for the industry. It is worse than taking us back to a time when there were no motor vehicle regulations. We need a DOT and NTSB that is able to step up and provide the oversight on self-driving vehicles that will protect the public.”
“We are helpless bystanders caught in a corporate gold rush while these profiteers rush these self-driving multi-ton missiles onto our streets and highways long before they are ready. The bottom line is protect people before profit. It’s time to put the brakes on autonomous vehicles.”