Uber has shelved its self-driving vehicle program, including a pilot in Toronto, after one of its test vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz. The accident marks the first known death of a pedestrian hit by an autonomous vehicle on public roads, according to media.
Following the incident, Uber suspended testing of its autonomous cars in Tempe, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Toronto.
The deceased woman was crossing the street outside a designated crosswalk at approximately 10 p.m. on March 18 when the accident occurred.
As is standard practice when testing autonomous vehicles, the Uber car was in autonomous drive mode, but there was a human safety driver behind the wheel when it hit the woman, according to reports. There were no passengers in the vehicle.
Uber issued a statement that the company is “fully cooperating with local authorities.”