GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION
205 Nicanor C. Garcia cor. Constellation Streets, Bel-Air, Makati City
What Uber’s fatal accident could mean for the autonomous-
car industry
The autonomous-car industry faces closer scrutiny and criticism after a self-driving Uber killed a
pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, on Sunday evening. Uber says it is cooperating with a police investigation
and has suspended testing of its self-driving vehicles in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto.
It is the first time a self-driving vehicle has killed a pedestrian, and the event is already causing some to
question the pace at which the technology is moving. Besides Uber, dozens of companies, including
established car makers and small startups, are rushing to test experimental self-driving vehicles and
autonomous systems on roads. These efforts have received blessing from local governments because
the technology seems so promising and because a driver is usually behind the wheel as a backup. A
safety driver was in the front seat when the accident in Tempe occurred.
Though automated driving could ultimately save countless lives on roads, some say the technology is
being deployed too quickly.
At a time when many have lauded the technology as ready for large-scale deployment, “this is clear
proof that is not yet the case,” says Bryan Reimer, a research scientist at MIT who studies automated
driving. “Until we understand the testing and deployment of these systems further, we need to take our
time and work through the evolution of the technology,” he says.
Subbarao Kambhampati, a professor at Arizona State University who specializes in AI, says the Uber
accident raises questions about the ability of safety drivers to monitor systems effectively, especially
after long hours of testing. Research conducted by Reimer and others reinforces this point. Other
research has shown the challenge of establishing communications between self-driving systems and
pedestrians.
The accident comes amid what seemed like rapid progress on self-driving technology and a push to
loosen legal restrictions. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet spun out of Google, announced late last year
that it was taking the safety driver out of its vehicles and said it would launch a driverless taxi service in
Phoenix later this year.
Just days ago, Waymo, Uber, and others had urged Congress to pass legislation that would pave the way
for self-driving cars in the US. The accident will most likely slow the passage of that bill.
There have been a handful of accidents involving self-driving vehicles, including a crash in Florida in May
2016 involving a Tesla Model S in Autopilot mode that failed to see a truck across the road ahead. The
Tesla’s driver was killed. Federal investigators have found the technology to be at fault in several of
these accidents, but they have so far resisted the urge to implement stricter rules or halt testing
altogether.
So far, the public has showed little sign of turning against the technology, even after such incidents. “I
am not really sure this is going to lead to a public worry or backlash,” says Kambhampati. “Because
honestly, I thought there would be more of a backlash after the Tesla accident.”
GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION
205 Nicanor C. Garcia cor. Constellation Streets, Bel-Air, Makati City
Vocabulary
Scrutiny – the act of carefully examining something especially in a critical way
Example: Careful scrutiny of the company’s accounts revealed a whole series of errors.
Deploy – to use something for a particular purpose, especially ideas, arguments
Example: Air bags are only deployed when the car is struck from the front.
Reinforce – to give support to an opinion, idea, or feeling, and make it stronger
Example: The film reinforces the idea that women should be pretty and dumb.
Passage – an act of officially approving a bill, law, etc.
Example: The passage of the new road-safety law will save lives.
Backlash: a strong negative reaction by a number of people against recent events, especially
against political or social developments
Example: Members of the Gun Club fear a public backlash against their sport after a recent
armed raid in the village.
Memory:
1. Why is Uber experiencing criticism?
2. What similar accidents occurred due to driverless cars?
3. What was the public’s reaction towards driverless cars, despite the accidents involving it?
Comprehension:
1. Why did local governments approve the testing of self-driving vehicles?
2. How did the accident affect the passage of self-driving cars bill in the US?
3. What questions about self-driving cars does the Uber accident raise?
Analysis:
1. Should driverless cars be allowed to test drive in roads?
2. What should Uber have done to prevent such an accident?
Application:
1. Are driverless cars safe for humans?
GRANDLINE PHILIPPINES CORPORATION
205 Nicanor C. Garcia cor. Constellation Streets, Bel-Air, Makati City
Synthesis:
1. Propose a plan on how driverless cars can be tested or used in a way safe for humans.
Evaluation:
1. The car industry is currently in a hype to test and finally release driverless cars. Is this a
worthy innovation to pursue? Why or why not?
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610574/what-ubers-fatal-accident-could-mean-for-
the-autonomous-car-industry/
