Cruise has been fined $1.5 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for not fully disclosing details surrounding a crash involving one of its robotaxis last year.
The incident occurred on October 2, 2023, in San Francisco, where a female pedestrian was thrown into the path of a Cruise robotaxi following a hit-and-run incident with a vehicle in an adjacent lane.
Although the Cruise robotaxi braked to avoid direct impact, it still made contact with the pedestrian. After an initial stop, the robotaxi continued forward for another 20 feet in an attempt to pull over, which Cruise stated was to prevent further road safety issues.
This post-crash maneuver led to the robotaxi dragging the pedestrian, a fact that was not initially disclosed by Cruise. The NHTSA only became aware of this after requesting additional video footage from the company.
NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman stated, "It is vitally important for companies developing automated-driving systems to prioritize safety and transparency from the start." The fine and consent order do not affect another investigation by the NHTSA regarding instances of Cruise robotaxis encroaching on pedestrians during road crossings.
Following the crash, Cruise was forced to sideline its robotaxi operations in California after the state revoked its license. The company subsequently paused its fleet in other states but began returning some to the road in May for testing purposes, always with a safety driver present. At this time, Cruise has not disclosed when its robotaxis will return to operation without a safety driver.
