A Cruise self-driving taxi has been accused of blocking emergency responders attending to a mass shooting in San Francisco, raising questions about how safely autonomous vehicles can respond to unpredictable situations.

According to a video shared online, an official complained the car was 'blocking emergency, medical and fire — I gotta get it out of here now.' 

However, Cruise said the car did not block emergency access to the scene 'at any point'. 'All vehicles, including emergency response vehicles, were able to proceed around our car' the company insisted. 

California’s Public Utilities Commission has been considering whether to broaden permissions for Cruise and Waymo. 

System

• Cruise website

• Cruise Wikipedia profile

Legal, regulatory

• Public Utilities Commission Of The State Of California (2023). SAN FRANCISCO’S COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION APPROVING AUTHORIZATION FOR CRUISE LLC’S EXPANDED SERVICE IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PASSENGER SERVICE PHASE I DRIVERLESS DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM (pdf)

• Public Utilities Commission Of The State Of California (2012, updated 2023) SAN FRANCISCO COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION APPROVING AUTHORIZATION FOR WAYMO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PASSENGER SERVICE PHASE 1 DRIVELESS DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM (pdf)

News, commentary, analysis

• https://twitter.com/paulvaldezsf/status/1667388580636004352

• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/12/san-francisco-robotaxi-hinder-emergency-crews-shooting

• https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/cruise-self-driving-car-seems-block-s-f-mass-18146295.php

• https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-driverless-car-blocks-first-reponders-mass-shooting-san-francisco-2023-6

• https://themessenger.com/news/cops-say-self-driving-car-blocked-emergency-response-after-mass-shooting

• https://insideevs.com/news/671690/gm-cruise-says-robotaxi-did-not-block-responders-sf-shooting/

• https://www.univision.com/local/san-francisco-kdtv/taxi-autonomo-bloqua-acceso-a-ambulancias-tras-tiroteo-en-san-francisco