Google has revealed that its autonomous Google Cars have been involved in 11 minor traffic accidents since trials with the vehicles began six years ago.
Google is now legally required to report the number of incidents the Google Cars are involved in with the Californian Department of Motor Vehicles, with the company having reported three incidents since last September, the month in which the legal requirement was made.
Google’s Chris Urmson claimed that “not once was the self-driving car the cause of the accident,” with the accidents having taken place during 1.7 million miles of testing, though further transparency is being called for in regards to these incidents as Google allegedly pushes towards tech for the cars that would see their pedals and steering wheels being removed altogether, thus removing any form of control for its passengers.
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According to Urmson, the Google Cars have been rear-ended seven times, while the other four accidents saw another vehicle hitting them from the side or were as a result of a car “rolling through a stop sign.” Urmson added: “Even when our software and sensors can detect a sticky situation and take action earlier and faster than an alert human driver, sometimes we won’t be able to overcome the realities of speed and distance.
“Sometimes we’ll get hit just waiting for a light to change.”
While the thought of being involved in an accident in a car you’re not in control of is undoubtedly concerning, considering these are preliminary tests 11 accidents, none of which caused any injuries to passengers, pedestrians or cyclists, is still a considerably low number. However, California’s DMV has not provided details regarding the incidents due to a law that keeps collision reports confidential, meaning that at this point in time we’re asked to just take Google’s word for it.
While this law is understandable when it comes to protecting the privacy of the other individuals involved in these accidents, when it comes to self-driving cars there should obviously be some form of revision made to the law so that the general public can be provided with a clearer look at how safe they are. Hopefully there will be more transparency in the future so that when the Google Car makes its way to a commercial release, we’ll all know whether or not we’re sitting inside of a very expensive death trap.
(Via Washington Post)
Photos: Getty Images
