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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has entered into a consent order with Cruise, a company owned by General Motors, after the company failed to fully report details of a crash involving an automated driving system (ADS). The incident occurred on October 2, 2023, when a driverless Cruise vehicle dragged a pedestrian for 20 feet. The consent order includes both financial penalties and increased oversight to ensure Cruise’s future compliance with NHTSA’s reporting standards. Cruise is now required to enhance its transparency in crash reports and its automated driving system operations.
Key Highlights:
- Incident Details: An October 2023 crash involving a driverless Cruise vehicle was not fully reported, leading to the consent order.
- Penalties: Cruise will pay a $1.5 million fine and must improve its reporting practices.
- Compliance Plan: Cruise must submit a corrective action plan detailing how it will meet NHTSA’s reporting requirements.
- Ongoing Oversight: Cruise will face enhanced scrutiny, with requirements to report on vehicle miles traveled, software updates, and safety metrics.
- Duration: The consent order has a base term of two years, with an option for a third year.
The NHTSA’s Standing General Order mandates that companies involved in automated driving systems submit detailed crash reports, including pre-crash, crash, and post-crash data. In Cruise’s case, some reports related to the October 2023 incident were incomplete, as key post-crash details were omitted. NHTSA’s review of video footage from the incident revealed the missing information, prompting the consent order. Cruise subsequently amended four additional crash reports to provide further details.
As part of the consent order, Cruise is required to enhance its safety reporting practices. This includes submitting information about the scope of its vehicle operations, such as the number of vehicles in service, whether these vehicles are driverless, and the total miles driven during the reporting period. Cruise must also provide updates on software changes that may affect its ADS and report any citations or violations of traffic laws.
NHTSA and Cruise will hold quarterly meetings to review operational data and ensure the company’s compliance with the order. Additionally, 90 days before the consent order’s expiration, Cruise will submit a final report summarizing its adherence to the agreement.
This consent order does not affect other investigations into Cruise’s operations, including Preliminary Evaluation 23-018, which remains ongoing.
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