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The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is currently examining two incidents involving Zoox vehicles that unexpectedly engaged in sudden braking, resulting in rear-end collisions. The investigations focus on the Zoox Automated Driving System (ADS) equipped in Toyota Highlanders. These events, reported under the NHTSA Action Number: PE24015, have raised concerns over the system’s performance in real-world driving conditions.
Key Highlights
- Two incidents reported involving sudden braking by Zoox-equipped vehicles.
- Both incidents featured Toyota Highlanders and resulted in collisions with motorcycles.
- Investigations are examining the performance of the Zoox ADS, especially how it behaves in close proximity to other road users.
- Minor injuries were reported, occurring in daylight and within the ADS operational limits.
- Preliminary Evaluation opened by ODI to further study these safety concerns.
The incidents took place in clear daytime conditions, suggesting that external environmental factors did not play a role in the unexpected behavior of the automated driving systems. Both collisions involved motorcyclists who were unable to avoid the abruptly stopping vehicles, leading to minor injuries. This pattern indicates a possible issue with how the automated system interprets road conditions or reacts to traffic.
Following these reports, ODI’s Preliminary Evaluation aims to scrutinize the specific circumstances leading to these collisions. The evaluation will also assess the ADS’s overall reliability and its decision-making processes in dynamic driving environments. This will include a close look at the system’s interaction with crosswalks and its response to other vulnerable road users, which are critical aspects of ADS performance safety.
The findings from these evaluations, along with detailed reports from the incidents, are accessible through the investigation file at NHTSA.gov, including detailed documents under SGO 2021-01 report IDs 30610-7578 and 30610-7589. This ongoing investigation underscores the challenges and necessary scrutiny involved in integrating automated driving technologies into public roadways.
ODI’s investigation is crucial in ensuring that advanced driving systems like Zoox’s ADS can safely coexist with human-driven vehicles and pedestrians, thereby enhancing overall road safety.
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