Federal Agency Shuts Down Self-Driving School Bus Test
- by Chuck Martin , October 23, 2018
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has directed a company to immediately stop transporting children in a driverless shuttle.
The shuttle is operated by Transdev North America and has been running in the Babcock Ranch community in Southwest Florida.
Using the driverless shuttle for transporting school children is unlawful and in violation of Transdev’s temporary importation authorization, according to NHTSA.
In March, NHTSA granted Transdev permission to import the driverless shuttle for demonstration and testing. The request was not to use the vehicle as a school bus, which are subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that take into account the purpose of transporting children, according to NHTSA.
“Innovation must not come at the risk of public safety,” stated Heidi King, NHTSA deputy administrator. “Using a non-compliant test vehicle to support children is irresponsible, inappropriate and in direct violation of the terms of Transdev’s approved test project.”
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OMG, What parent in their right mind would allow their kid on a driverlass, supervisorless
self-driving rolling disaster waiting to happen???? So some sick-o could not board the bus and tell the kids he is the driver, and hi-jack the bus???
Come on folks. It takes knowledge to dvelop these, it takes stupidity to implement it.
Flat Florida roads? How about curvey back roads in the country.......in WINTER!!
hOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADD THIS TO THE BUS??? No one ever mentions cost.
So you put out of work lots of part time drivers who mostly enjoy their jobs, to prove what?
That we can do this??
"Innovation must not come at the risk of public safety,” stated Heidi King, NHTSA deputy administrator. “Using a non-compliant test vehicle to support children is irresponsible, inappropriate ........"
Ms King has nailed it. And I think she should wrap this statement around the entire
Auto-tonomous movement. Don't play with kids lives, so mom and dad can scan Facebook
while driving.
Good points, Mark. As in pretty much all the self-driving pilots, there is an actual person who can override the "system."