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The future is now—and that future is way less cool than we imagined it would be.
The San Francisco police department and Cruise driverless vehicles had an interesting run-in over the weekend. The incident, which was caught on video by bystanders, has people full of questions - and the Cruise social media team working in overdrive.
Footage shows the officer pulled up behind the white and red Chevy bolt - a vehicle which had been converted into a Cruise car. Cruise vehicles are driverless robotaxis available from 10pm to 6am around San Francisco.
This one in the video was driving without the lights on - not only dangerous and illegal, but indicative of a technical issue with the cars computer.
The clip shows the officer approach and examine the car, try to open the door, and then start walking back to his car.
The driverless vehicle then drives away, crosses the street, and pulls over again - something people on Twitter believe a human would face dire consequences for.
The officer follows, pulling over to again inspect the vehicle The rest of the vehicle can best be described as a dystopian sci-fi farce as a group of officers, essentially, dawdles around while on the phone with tech support.
Way less cool than the driverless cars Hollywood promised us; but absolutely on brand for 2022.
Welcome to the future. Cop pulls over driverless car (because no lights?) Then Cruise goes on the lamb. (via https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cb1q-vggFn9/\u00a0)pic.twitter.com/ecQ5xXuSnS— Seth Weintraub (@Seth Weintraub) 1649552973
People had a lot to say about what they saw.
Does this get a ticket or a bug report?— securopean (@securopean) 1649609997
This...is..HILARIOUS! I used to think those scenes on #KnightRider when people would look confused and say, "This car don't have no driver!" was corny, but lo and behold! https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/1512960943805841410\u00a0\u2026— Your Vaxxed Manga Uncle EddieDexter (@Your Vaxxed Manga Uncle EddieDexter) 1649685706
Only American cops would approach the driverless car (the second time) with a club drawn increase the car resisted...— Blue538f6 (@Blue538f6) 1649619709
What do they keep looking inside for? A leprechaun?https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/1512960943805841410\u00a0\u2026— Drew Geishecker (@Drew Geishecker) 1649687780
It's wild how it's even possible for a car like this to have its headlights off at night. My 96 Volvo 850 Wagon only turns the lights on when the car is on, so I never have to touch the lights. My 2001 Bonneville has an ambient light sensor, so I never have to touch the lights.— Fearless Ferret (@Fearless Ferret) 1649654349
The future will be even more exciting https://twitter.com/llsethj/status/1512960943805841410\u00a0\u2026— Hamim Nigena (@Hamim Nigena) 1649693812
The social media team at Cruise stepped in to provide some context to the video.
Chiming in with more details: our AV yielded to the police vehicle, then pulled over to the nearest safe location for the traffic stop, as intended. An officer contacted Cruise personnel and no citation was issued.— cruise (@cruise) 1649605581
According to them, the robotaxi did exactly as it was programmed to do. Cruise spokesperson, Aaron Mclear, agrees. He reiterated the statement to The Verge, adding that there is a designated phone number for police to use when dealing with Cruise vehicles.
So yeah, the cops had to call tech support.
“The vehicle yielded to the police car, then pulled over to the nearest safe location for the traffic stop. An officer contacted Cruise personnel and no citation was issued. We work closely with the SFPD on how to interact with our vehicles and have a dedicated phone number for them to call in situations like this.”
Twitter isn't so sure about this.
So\u2026driverless cars have no obligation to have proper headlights or other safety features because no one will be held responsible? And local police have to call a customer service line? And pay attention because the menu options may have changed?https://twitter.com/cruise/status/1513181598140796936\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\ude90\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude90 \ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude90\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude9b. (@\ud835\ude90\ud835\ude9b\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude90 \ud835\ude8b\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude9c\ud835\ude92\ud835\ude97\ud835\ude90\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude9b.) 1649711083
Your car driving away from police after first stopping is going to get some poor passenger shot some day.— Ian (@Ian) 1649630318
"no citation was issued"\n\nif this car HAD a driver, I can ASSURE YOU there would have been WAY MORE than a citation\n\nbut corporations don't have to follow laws or be accountablehttps://twitter.com/Cruise/status/1513181598140796936\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udff4\ud83d\udea9 \ud83d\udca5 The Countess is on Troll Patrol \ud83d\udca5\ud83c\udff4\ud83d\udea9 (@\ud83c\udff4\ud83d\udea9 \ud83d\udca5 The Countess is on Troll Patrol \ud83d\udca5\ud83c\udff4\ud83d\udea9) 1649627376
No citation? A brown person like myself would have gotten one. But be nice being a robot.— shadarko - rename it the Greta Walkway (@shadarko - rename it the Greta Walkway) 1649615902
Who else gets ticketed when their lights go out while driving?https://twitter.com/Cruise/status/1513181598140796936\u00a0\u2026— Madam Moondrops \ud83c\udf15\ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f (@Madam Moondrops \ud83c\udf15\ud83c\udff4\u200d\u2620\ufe0f) 1649612088
The question is: why was your vehicle driving unsafely with no lights on? Headlights are not just to see, but more importantly are to show other cars that you are coming.— Radiochemist Joe (@Radiochemist Joe) 1649684948
Missing from this explanation: \n\n- Why was @Cruise operating a self-driving vehicle at night without lights in SF?\n\n- How does @Cruise validate that "pre-drive checklist" that every human driver unconsciously checks to ensure the vehicle is safe to operate before setting off?https://twitter.com/Cruise/status/1513181598140796936\u00a0\u2026— Andy Zmolek \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 London (@Andy Zmolek \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 London) 1649669606
How about why it's driving around AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. Nevermind the fact it drove away as in the middle of a traffic stop.skynet takes over I hope it gets you idiots first.— Emachine (@Emachine) 1649685797
The Cruise spokesperson assured media outlets that any issues with the vehicle have been rectified, but did not clarify what led to the vehicle driving through the city without lights on in the first place.