Cruise autopilot cars from the GM company are licensed for driverless driving in the state.
San Francisco Police had an awkward moment after chasing a GM Cruise vehicle, a self-driving example.
Law enforcement officials in the state stopped this unit, but realized that it had no driver, leaving them confused during their routine operation.
In the images, the policemen approach the car, looking through all its mirrors to identify the driver. Within seconds, the Cruise accelerates and continues on its way, while the officers return to their vehicle to go after the car again.
After a new “arrest”, the officers continue to look inside, while witnesses look at the scene in disbelief.
Welcome to the future. Cop pulls over driverless car (because no lights?) Then Cruise goes on the lamb. (via https://t.co/mtmsIeOAUP) pic.twitter.com/ecQ5xXuSnS
— Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) April 10, 2022
Cruise replies
A day after the video went viral, Cruise said his vehicle yielded to police and he drove to the nearest safe spot for that traffic stop.
“An officer contacted Cruise personnel and no citation was issued,” the company said. “We work closely with the SFPD ( San Francisco Police Department) on how to interact with our vehicles, including a dedicated phone number for them to call in situations like this.”
It is not clear why the police stopped the vehicle, but it appears that the car did not have its headlights on.
General Motor bought Cruise in 2016, thus entering the race of several car companies to create autonomous vehicles capable of changing urban environments, allowing shared trips and making owning a car useless, but, for now, autonomous vehicles are limited to testing small areas.
