Driver-less vehicles are great in theory and — if we’re gonna be honest — the idea that we ever needed humans to physically pilot machines at all will be a quaint notion within the next few decades. Like answering the phone when you don’t know who’s on the other end is nowadays.
However, progress comes with tragic consequences, and the reality of driver-less vehicles has been driven home after a woman was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber during a test run of the technology.
The death happened in the suburbs in Phoenix, Arizona, and is the first human death caused by a driver-less vehicle. It has led to Uber suspending such tests — although for how long we don’t know.
“The vehicle was travelling northbound, when a female walking outside of the crosswalk crossed the road, from west to east, when she was struck by the Uber vehicle,” the police said in a statement to media.
Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. We’re fully cooperating with @TempePolice and local authorities as they investigate this incident.
— Uber Comms (@Uber_Comms) March 19, 2018
