The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a demand on Wednesday for autonomous vehicle companies to swiftly address clear patterns of interference with police and other emergency response vehicles.
According to Reuters, NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to the industry detailing multiple incidents where self-driving cars rushed into emergency scenes or impeded ambulances and fire trucks. These vehicles failed to recognize basic elements such as emergency lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones.
Morrison emphasized that the inability to detect and respond appropriately to these situations constitutes a functional defect.
He warned that autonomous vehicles incapable of safely interacting with emergency responders pose a risk to public safety. The NHTSA chief urged developers and operators of self-driving cars to prioritize resolving these issues.
NHTSA plans to convene with autonomous vehicle developers by the end of this month to explore potential solutions.
Texas media reported that in late May, a Waymo self-driving car partially blocked a fire truck en route to an emergency in Dallas, sparking controversy. Videos circulating online show autonomous vehicles obstructing ambulances or driving through active police response scenes.
The media outlet reported that both NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating several incidents involving Waymo vehicles.