Autonomous Vehicle Surge: Unveiling California's 3.3 Million Miles Milestone and Key Players

Autonomous Vehicle Mileage Soars in California: A Closer Look at Trends and Concerns

Autonomous Vehicle Surge: Unveiling California's 3.3 Million Miles Milestone and Key Players
In the past year, autonomous vehicles without human drivers logged an impressive 3.3 million miles in California, showcasing a substantial fivefold surge from the preceding year. Data unveiled by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Friday spotlighted General Motors’ Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo as the principal contributors, representing 63% and 36% of the total miles traveled sans safety drivers.

The streets of San Francisco now routinely witness taxis navigating with empty driver’s seats as autonomous vehicles seamlessly traverse the urban landscape. However, a pivotal incident involving a Cruise robotaxi, entailing a collision with a pedestrian resulting in a 20-foot drag, triggered public outcry and prompted a temporary nationwide suspension of Cruise’s operations.

Safety and Advancements: An Overview of Autonomous Testing Metrics

Autonomous Vehicle Surge: Unveiling California's 3.3 Million Miles Milestone and Key Players
Despite reservations stemming from the Cruise mishap, the total miles covered by autonomous vehicles with safety drivers also experienced an uptick, rising from 5.1 million to 5.7 million miles, according to DMV data spanning December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.

Advocates of self-driving technology consistently assert its superior safety, particularly in contrast to human drivers engaged in activities such as drunk driving, texting, or experiencing driver fatigue. However, discontent has surfaced in San Francisco, articulated by residents, city agencies, and specific labor unions, citing the disruptive nature of robotaxis on traffic flow and the associated risks linked to their unpredictable driving behavior and sudden halts on bustling roads.

Responding to safety concerns, the DMV took regulatory action in October, temporarily suspending testing and deployment permits for Cruise. The company is currently under scrutiny from multiple investigations, including a probe by the Justice Department. Out of the 38 companies holding permits for autonomous vehicle testing with safety drivers, only six have secured permits for driverless testing. This select group includes Waymo, Amazon’s Zoox unit, Baidu’s Apollo, and startups Nuro, WeRide, and AutoX.

As autonomous vehicle technology advances, apprehensions have surfaced regarding Chinese companies conducting tests. Some U.S. lawmakers advocate for increased transparency concerning the collection and storage of sensitive data related to citizens, infrastructure, and technologies by these entities.