Cruise hit with $1.5 million fine for failing to report robotaxi crash involving pedestrian

Last October, a Cruise conveyance deed a pedestrian and past cause her 20 feet aft she was initially struck by a quality operator successful a hit-and-run incident. In the aftermath, Cruise disclosed that its conveyance had struck a pedestrian but omitted details astir the unfortunate being dragged. As a result, the California DMV pulled the GM-backed company’s licence to run self-driving cars successful the state, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an probe into the incident.

Today, NHTSA announced the $1.5 cardinal punishment arsenic portion of a broader consent bid with Cruise that includes further requirements astir information and disclosure. The institution submitted respective “incomplete reports” nether the agency’s Standing General Order, which requires clang reports wrong a definite play of time, depending connected their severity.

In its archetypal study to NHTSA, filed 1 time aft the incident, Cruise failed to disclose “that the Cruise conveyance had dragged the pedestrian,” the consent bid reads. The institution besides filed an further study 10 days aboriginal successful which it besides failed to disclose the dragging incident.

“It is vitally important for companies processing automated driving systems to prioritize information and transparency from the start,” NHTSA lawman head Sophie Shulman said. “NHTSA is utilizing its enforcement authorization to guarantee operators and manufacturers comply with each ineligible obligations and enactment to support each roadworthy users.”

After its licence was suspended, Cruise hired a instrumentality steadfast to behaviour an probe into what went wrong. The firm’s study concluded that the institution had tried to nonstop a 45-second video to regulators that showed its conveyance dragging the unfortunate but was hampered by “internet connectivity issues.” Also, Cruise employees failed to constituent retired the dragging incidental successful consequent conversations with regulators.

“Our statement with NHTSA is simply a measurement guardant successful a caller section for Cruise, gathering connected our advancement nether caller leadership, improved processes and culture, and a steadfast committedness to greater transparency with our regulators,” Cruise’s main information officer, Steve Kenner, said successful a statement. “We look guardant to continued adjacent collaboration with NHTSA arsenic our operations progress, successful work of our shared extremity of improving roadworthy safety.”

But further penalties could beryllium coming successful the future. The institution is besides being investigated by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.