Autonomous Cars

Overhead view of white Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco, California with shared bikes and scooters visible on adjacent sidewalk.

Robotaxis Wreak Havoc on Urban Transit

In cities across the United States, robotaxis, championed by companies like Waymo and Cruise, are a marvel of modern technology and a flashpoint for debate over their place in urban transit.

November 11, 2024 - Cities of the Future

White self-driving car at stop sign coming down hill with Coit Tower in background in San Francisco, California.

California Governor Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban, Approves New Guidelines for AVs

A new law will allow police to issue citations to self-driving car operators and create stricter guidelines for crashes and interactions with first responders.

October 8, 2024 - The Verge

Man sitting in driver's seat looking at cell phone.

IIHS: Drivers Using ‘Autonomous’ Features More Likely to Be Distracted

Despite warnings that drivers should remain attentive, people behind the wheel of cars equipped with ‘autonomous’ assistance often take their eyes off the road.

September 22, 2024 - Quartz

Close-up of man's hands on steering wheel and digital screen in Tesla car's driver's seat.

Tesla ‘Nearly Crashes’ in Full Self-Driving Mode

A test of Tesla’s autonomous mode showed troubling permissiveness, according to one analyst.

July 31, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Close-up of back windshield of Waymo autonomous car.

NHTSA Launches Investigations Into Two More Self-Driving Automakers

The federal agency is responding to reports of crashes and erratic behavior from Waymo and Zoox vehicles.

May 21, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Double-lane interestate in the desert with two semi-trucks and five cars driving toward the camera, low mountains in the background.

Arizona to Build ‘Testbed’ for Autonomous Vehicles

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced a public-private partnership to install fiber-optic infrastructure along 405 miles of interstate highways to enable vehicle connectivity.

May 16, 2024 - Government Technology

Jaguar Self-Driving Car

Waymo Expanding Robotaxi Service to More Bay Area Cities

The company was permitted to operate in 22 Bay Area cities without restrictions in March.

May 6, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle

White Waymo self-driving taxi on street in San Francisco, California with brick buildings in background.

California Bills Take Aim at Robotaxi Regulation

Local officials want more control over how and where autonomous cars are deployed.

April 29, 2024 - Tech Crunch

Kentucky state capitol dome in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Kentucky Governor Vetoes Autonomous Car Bill

The bill, passed by the state legislature, faced opposition from safety advocates and labor groups concerned about the loss of freight jobs.

April 9, 2024 - Governing

Close-up of back of white self-driving Waymo car on San Francisco street.

California Approves Waymo Driverless Taxis

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles can begin picking up passengers in Los Angeles and San Francisco in spite of opposition from local officials.

March 6, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Overhead view of white Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco, California with shared bikes and scooters visible on adjacent sidewalk.

An Approach for Managing the Risks of Autonomous Cars

As ‘robotaxis’ and other autonomous vehicles make their way onto American streets, cities can take proactive steps to mitigate risks and balance the benefits and challenges of new technology.

February 4, 2024 - Governing

Red and white Cruise autonomous Chevy Bolt on San Francisco street

The Rise and Fall of Cruise

The autonomous car company’s precipitous downfall offers lessons for other carmakers.

December 22, 2023 - Fast Company

Row of white Tesla electric cars in parking lot with dealership building with Tesla logo in background.

Study: Tesla Drivers Have Higher Crash Rates

Insurance data shows a higher rate of crashes and the second highest rate of ‘incidents’ such as DUI citations.

December 20, 2023 - Jalopnik

White and red Cruise self-driving car with "Self-driver in training" sign on back

Autonomous Cars Putting Strain on Local Governments

As the industry pushes ahead in fits and starts, local officials and first responders are scrambling to develop protocols for handling driverless vehicles.

November 29, 2023 - The New York Times

Close-up of blurred pedestrians crossing busy urban crosswalk.

Planning for the Autonomous Future

With some historical perspective, transportation planners and policymakers can avoid the mistakes of the past and develop a transportation system that acknowledges the needs of all road users.

November 12, 2023 - Route Fifty

White and red Cruise autonomous car on San Francisco street.

Cruise Recalls Autonomous Fleet

The scrutiny facing the troubled self-driving car operator could have significant implications for the industry.

November 9, 2023 - Detroit Free Press

White and red Cruise self-driving vehicle on a San Francisco street.

Cruise Suspends Driverless Operations, Waymo Pushes Ahead

While Cruise is pausing all of its autonomous services in a bid to “regain public trust,” Waymo, via Uber, will begin offering autonomous rides in Phoenix.

October 30, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

White and red Cruise autonomous car on San Francisco street with concrete Brutalist-style building in background on grey, rainy day.

California Grounds Cruise Autonomous Fleet

In the wake of serious pedestrian injuries and a federal investigation, state agencies have barred the driverless taxi company from continuing to operate.

October 25, 2023 - CALmatters

White and red Cruise self-driving vehicle on a San Francisco street.

Feds To Investigate Autonomous Car Crashes

The NHTSA has opened an investigation into Cruise self-driving cars after four separate incidents that injured pedestrians in San Francisco.

October 19, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of vehicles on city street with superimposed graphic arrows indicating autonomous cars.

Maintaining Livability in the Age of Autonomous Cars

How do self-driving cars fit into ‘livable streets?’

October 5, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

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