This is likely the first time a pedestrian has been killed by a self-driving car.
A woman was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber as she crossed a street Sunday night Tempe, and the company has suspended its autonomous testing," report Gabrielle Olivera and Ryan Randazzo. Uber also suspended operations in other cities where the company is testing self-driving cars.
"Sgt. Ronald Elcock, a Tempe police spokesman, said the car was on autonomous mode with a driver behind the wheel when it hit the pedestrian," according to the article.
The New York Times also reported the news, where Daisuke Wakabayashi reports that the incident "appears to be the first known death of a pedestrian struck by an autonomous vehicle on public roads."
The tragedy comes only a few weeks after a potentially momentous step forward for autonomous vehicles technology, after the state of California cleared the way for autonomous vehicles to operate without a human operator onboard the vehicle. Obviously, in this instance, the human operator wasn't enough to guarantee pedestrian safety.
Update: Henry Grabar's article on the tragedy has the most complete coverage of the incident and its possible implications.
FULL STORY: Self-driving Uber strikes, kills woman crossing road in Tempe
Back-Up Driver of Autonomous Vehicle Charged With Negligent Homicide of Pedestrian
The broader safety implications of the death of Elaine Hertzberg after being struck by an Uber autonomous vehicle in Tempe is still being litigated. Last week, the back-up driver of the vehicle was charged with negligent homicide.
Tempe Police Chief: Uber AV vs. Pedestrian Crash May Have Been Unavoidable
After viewing the videos taken by two cameras equipped in the Uber autonomous vehicle that fatally struck 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg on Sunday, the chief concluded the crash was difficult to avoid. Also, lessons on the crash from David Leonhardt.
Making Autonomous Vehicles Safer for Blind Pedestrians
A team of researchers is developing a dataset to fill a critical gap in self-driving cars’ learning models.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service