Arizona was initially on the front lines of self-driving car testing for Uber, but now, the company is banned from testing self-driving cars in the state. Other companies are having more success with their testing, but blips in the successfulness of self-driving cars has cast some doubt on the timeline for using these cars for deliveries and passenger transport. Here is what you need to know.
Self-Driving Cars and Human Drivers
Self-driving cars are tested with human drivers behind the wheel. The idea is that the car will drive autonomously, but the human driver will be there to intervene as necessary to correct any mistakes. The company can track the errors that occur to determine operating conditions, traffic flows, and other factors that seem to interfere with how the cars work, so that they can be corrected. A goal of testing is to gradually increase the amount of time between driver interventions so that the car is doing the majority of driving itself.
The success has varied between operators. The cars in Google’s Waymo testing were able to go an average of almost 5,600 miles without the driver having to intervene. In Arizona, Uber was struggling to meet its goal of going 13 miles without an intervention.
Uber’s Arizona Accident
In March 2018, a self-driving Uber car struck and killed a woman in Tempe. The car was going under the speed limit, and dashcam video appears to show the human driver failing to pay attention to the road ahead. As a result of the accident, Arizona rescinded its permission to allow Uber to test drive cars on state roads.
Future Self-Driving Car Testing
Uber has stopped testing, but other self-driving car companies are on the roads. Waymo is testing cars in Arizona after its success in California, and other companies are also competing to be the first to make self-driving cars a reality.
The future of self-driving cars and their role in delivery may be unknown, but one thing you can count on is Xcel Delivery Services’ commitment to helping you manage all of your shipping and delivery needs. To find out more about out delivery options, call (520) 355-4897.
