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Video in link ..........
www.fox7austin.com
Video and pictures shared on social media depict a scene of chaos in Austin’s West Campus as dozens of autonomous vehicles block the streets and disrupt traffic. Residents in the area expressed frustration at the lack of coordination among the driverless cars, which resulted in them facing sideways in the middle of the road while attempting to navigate around each other.
Witnesses reported instances where the narrowness of the street forced two Cruise cars to come to a standstill. To resolve the impasse, one of the vehicles had to manually reverse to allow the other one to pass through. The incident prompted passengers to contact the company to inquire about the situation.
According to a memo from the Transportation and Public Works Department, there are currently 125 autonomous vehicles deployed on Austin roads. Three companies, Cruise, Waymo, and Volkswagen ADMT, are operating these vehicles in the city. Legislation passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017 and 2021 gives the state government authority over the regulation and operation of autonomous vehicles, preempting local municipalities.
Concerns surrounding the use of autonomous vehicles include their difficulty in following traffic directions from law enforcement or construction workers, as well as their potential to obstruct emergency responders. However, there have been no documented injuries to pedestrians, cyclists, or scooter riders due to autonomous vehicles.
In response to this incident, the Transportation and Public Works Department has formed an autonomous vehicle task force comprising various agencies to gather feedback and incident data. Residents living in the West Campus area acknowledge the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles but express concerns about the current lack of practicality and coordination.
While the introduction of autonomous vehicles in Austin is seen as a step toward the future, it is evident that there are still significant challenges to overcome. As the city continues to work closely with autonomous vehicle companies, improvements in network development and data analysis are crucial to ensure safer and more efficient operations.
Autonomous vehicle chaos in Austin
Video and pictures on social media showed autonomous vehicles jammed up traffic in West Campus, blocking the entire street.
Video and pictures shared on social media depict a scene of chaos in Austin’s West Campus as dozens of autonomous vehicles block the streets and disrupt traffic. Residents in the area expressed frustration at the lack of coordination among the driverless cars, which resulted in them facing sideways in the middle of the road while attempting to navigate around each other.
Witnesses reported instances where the narrowness of the street forced two Cruise cars to come to a standstill. To resolve the impasse, one of the vehicles had to manually reverse to allow the other one to pass through. The incident prompted passengers to contact the company to inquire about the situation.
According to a memo from the Transportation and Public Works Department, there are currently 125 autonomous vehicles deployed on Austin roads. Three companies, Cruise, Waymo, and Volkswagen ADMT, are operating these vehicles in the city. Legislation passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017 and 2021 gives the state government authority over the regulation and operation of autonomous vehicles, preempting local municipalities.
Concerns surrounding the use of autonomous vehicles include their difficulty in following traffic directions from law enforcement or construction workers, as well as their potential to obstruct emergency responders. However, there have been no documented injuries to pedestrians, cyclists, or scooter riders due to autonomous vehicles.
In response to this incident, the Transportation and Public Works Department has formed an autonomous vehicle task force comprising various agencies to gather feedback and incident data. Residents living in the West Campus area acknowledge the potential benefits of autonomous vehicles but express concerns about the current lack of practicality and coordination.
While the introduction of autonomous vehicles in Austin is seen as a step toward the future, it is evident that there are still significant challenges to overcome. As the city continues to work closely with autonomous vehicle companies, improvements in network development and data analysis are crucial to ensure safer and more efficient operations.
