The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an inquiry into Amazon-owned Zoox's autonomous vehicles, following two incidents in which the company's self-driving cars were involved in rear-end collisions with motorcycles, resulting in minor injuries. The probe will focus on how the automated driving system behaves around pedestrian crosswalks and in situations similar to these collisions, as per the NHTSA's filing.
Both accidents occurred during daylight and under conditions suitable for the technology's operation, according to documents obtained by NHTSA. The first incident took place on April 28 in San Francisco, at the intersection of 11th and Bryant streets, detailed by the San Francisco Examiner. The second, in Nevada last month. Each involved a Toyota Highlander equipped with Zoox's Automated Driving System (ADS) and motorcycles trailing the automated vehicles.
During the San Francisco occurrence, a report from the California Department of Motor Vehicles stated that a Zoox vehicle while making a right turn, was approached from behind by a motorcycle moving laterally across lanes. When the vehicle abruptly braked, its operator took over and disengaged the autonomous system, leading to the motorcyclist striking the rear side of the car. Fortunately, the motorcyclist, who declined medical attention after scraping his hands, and the Zoox vehicle involved in the San Francisco mishap, came out with only minor damages, as detailed by the DMV report.
As Zoox continues to expand its self-driving operation in cities like Las Vegas and the Foster City where its headquarters reside, federal investigators are scrutinizing the safety of its technology, especially in situations posing risks to vulnerable road users. This isn't Zoox's first brush with federal scrutiny, as a separate ongoing NHTSA investigation probes into the company’s certification of one vehicle meeting safety standards. Despite these incidents, Zoox remains a key player in San Francisco's autonomous vehicle landscape, alongside companies like Waymo and faltering operations like GM's subsidiary Cruise, which suspended services after an accident.
Zoox, acquired by Amazon for an estimated $1.3 billion in June 2020, had first received the green light to transport passengers with a safety driver in December 2018. They later obtained driverless testing approval from the DMV in September 2021. But spokespeople for the company have yet to respond to the recent claims, as noted by the San Francisco Examiner.
