Uber Halting Self-Driving Operations In Arizona Following Fatal Crash

uber self driving car

Uber announced that it is suspending its self-driving operations in Arizona following a fatal accident involving one of the vehicles in March. The company told the nearly 300 workers that they were being laid off right after they showed up for work on Wednesday (May 23) morning. While many of those employees continued to work following the crash, the test drivers have not been working since the crash, but Uber said they continued to get paid. The shutdown applies to Uber's autonomous truck program as well. Uber said that the closure would not impact any of the other 550 workers that are employed in the state. 

The ridesharing company had been testing autonomous vehicles in Arizona since 2016 but halted the program after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a self-driving SUV. Following the crash, Arizona governor Doug Ducey instructed the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend Uber's ability to test and operate autonomous vehicles.

Uber said that it still plans to research and invest in autonomous vehicles in other cities across the country. The company added that they will restart the testing program in Pittsburgh after federal investigators wrap up their report about the fatal crash in Tempe. Uber is also working with California lawmakers to resume testing in the state as well.

“We’re committed to self-driving technology, and we look forward to returning to public roads in the near future," Uber said in a prepared statement. "In the meantime, we remain focused on our top-to-bottom safety review, having brought on former NTSB Chair Christopher Hart to advise us on our overall safety culture.”

Photo: Getty Images


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