Categories: GADGET

GM’s Cruise fined $1.5 million for omitting details about its gruesome 2023 crash


On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined Cruise, GM’s self-driving vehicle division, $1.5 million. The penalty was imposed for omitting key details from an October 2023 accident in which one of the company’s autonomous vehicles struck and dragged a San Francisco pedestrian.

Cruise is being fined for initially submitting several incomplete reports. The NHTSA’s reports require pre-crash, crash and post-crash details, which the company gave to the agency without a critical detail: that the pedestrian was dragged by the vehicle for 20 feet at around 7 MPH, causing severe injuries. Eventually, the company released a 100-page report from a law firm detailing its failures surrounding the accident.

That report states that Cruise executives initially played a video of the accident during October 3 meetings with the San Francisco Mayor’s Office, NHTSA, DMV and other officials. However, the video stream was “hampered by internet connectivity issues” that concealed the part where the vehicle dragged the victim. Executives, who the report stated knew about the dragging, also failed to verbally mention that crucial detail in the initial meetings because they wanted to let “the video speak for itself.”

Investigators finally found out about the dragging after the NHTSA asked the company to submit the full video. The government agency says Cruise also amended four other incomplete crash reports involving its vehicles to add additional details.

The NHTSA’s new requirements for Cruise include submitting a corrective action plan, along with others covering its total number of vehicles, their miles traveled and whether they operated without a driver. It also has to summarize software updates that affect operation, report citations and observed violations of traffic laws and let the agency know how it will improve safety. Finally, Cruise will have to meet with the NHTSA quarterly to discuss the state of its operations while reviewing its reports and compliance.

The order lasts at least two years, and the NHTSA can extend it to a third year. Reuters reported on Monday that, despite the fine, the NHTSA’s investigation into whether Cruise is taking proper safety precautions to protect pedestrians is still open. Cruise still faces probes by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To say the incident sparked shakeups at Cruise would be an understatement. The company halted its self-driving operations after the accident. Then, last November, the dominoes began to fall: Its CEO resigned, and GM said it would cut its Cruise investment by “hundreds of millions of dollars” and restructure its leadership. Nine more executives were dismissed in December.

Nonetheless, Cruise is trying to rebound under its new leadership. Vehicles with drivers returned to Arizona and Houston this year, and GM said it’s pouring an additional $850 million into it. Earlier this month, it began operating in California again, also with drivers — which, it’s safe to say, is a good thing.



Source link

fromermedia@gmail.com

Share
Published by
fromermedia@gmail.com

Recent Posts

Note-Taking App Craft Updated With New Task Management Features and More

The standout feature is the ability to create and stricter your ideas into a beautiful…

15 hours ago

Monster Energy’s Ayumu Hirano Claims Victory in Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe at the FIS World Cup at Copper Mountain

Monster Energy congratulates team rider Ayumu Hirano on claiming first place in the Men's Snowboard…

15 hours ago

Mother of all bubbles: This is America’s ‘fatal flaw,’ expert says

© 2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance…

16 hours ago

Qualcomm wins a legal battle over Arm chip licensing

A federal jury in Delaware determined on Friday that Qualcomm didn’t breach its agreement with…

3 days ago

Three Comic/Movie/Band Reviews | Cup of Jo

Geese The Wendy Award The Apprentice What have you read/watched/listened to lately? Phoebe Ward, 22,…

3 days ago

Actually, Flipping Properties Can Improve Housing Affordability—Here’s How

15% ROI, 5% down loans!","body":"3.99% rate, 5% down! Access the BEST deals in the US…

3 days ago