California Finds Autonomous Vehicles Impedes Emergency Operations in the City

By Aarti Dhapte , 23 November, 2023

The market for passenger cars with autonomous driving features will be growing daily in 2023. In the era of autonomous driving, passengers can sit back relaxing, and vehicles can handle driving with the automation facility.

In San Francisco, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has recently voted 3-1 to let self-driving car companies enhance their programs. A considerable conflict happened in August 2023 due to no drivers in the passenger cars, as the public testimony mentions that autonomous vehicles have obstructed the emergency operations in the city.

Over recent years, the number of registered passenger cars worldwide has had the highest share in the autonomous car category. According to a study, regular passenger cars could make up only about 19 percent of the newly registered vehicles in 2020. Autonomous cars have been categorized into six levels, from zero to five, by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In the initial levels of zero to two comes the driver support technology that aims to minimize the work pressure on the driver and is found in the latest cars. The features of driver support technology are hands-free potential and adaptive-cruise controls, among others. In the first two levels, with the assistance of autonomous driving systems, the driver cannot turn away attention from the road. Level three has the lowest automated mode. Level three of mechanical driving services now consists of regular production; level 4 is expected by 2025. The awaited level 4 autonomous cars can help drive independently without the driver's help.

In California, numerous autonomous cars have been on the road over the past few years. Even some of the vehicles are equipped with human safety drivers to assist in the smooth running of the cars. After the vote in August 2023 in San Fransisco, customers will be charged for rides without drivers (humans) at any time of the day. Earlier, driverless autonomous vehicles were allowed to take passengers on a limited basis.