Feds say robotaxis interfering with first responders is a 'functional insufficiency,' demand solutions by August

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a "call to action" to autonomous vehicle operators, saying in a letter that the agency has "identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders," reports Kirsten Korosec in TechCrunch.

The letter added that "the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency," and that the agency wants to see solutions by the end of the month. "The agency’s letter to AV developers doesn’t say what the consequences would be if the request is ignored. Nor does it outline what the acceptable solutions would be."

While the letter did not call out any automakers in particular, TechCrunch previously found that Waymo vehicles were involved in at least six incidents where they impeded emergency response situations.