Uber has suspended North American tests of its self-driving vehicles after an autonomous car hit and killed a woman crossing the street in Arizona. The incident occurred in Tempe, Phoenix, and is the first time a self-driving car has killed a pedestrian. Elaine Herzberg, 49, was walking her bicycle outside the pedestrian crossing on a four-lane road at about 10:00pm on 18 March when she was struck by the Uber vehicle traveling at about 65 kilometres per hour, said the local police, according to Bloomberg.
The 2017 Volvo SUV was in autonomous mode with an operator behind the wheel but police didn't specify whether it slowed down before the collision. Uber replied in a statement on Twitter: “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation of this incident.” The company subsequently suspended tests of its self-driving vehicles, which have been underway for months in Arizona, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto.
