An autonomous robotaxi in China hit two people on a pedestrian crossing. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Videos circulating on social media show details of the incident, where bystanders are seen trying to rescue the victims. According to local authorities, the incident involved a robotaxi marked with the inscription “Hello Autonomous Driving” and bearing the number “3009.”
The robotaxi was moving south after crossing the pedestrian path when two pedestrians were struck by the vehicle. The victims were immediately taken to the Hunan Traditional Medicine Hospital.
They are currently being treated in intensive care. The “Hello” company confirmed that it is aware of the incident and stated that it is fully cooperating with other agencies conducting the investigation.
It has not yet been determined whether the autopilot malfunctioned or if other technical reasons contributed to the incident. Due to the accident, the robotaxi service in Zhuzhou has been temporarily suspended.
According to experts, with the widespread introduction of autonomous vehicles in China, it is necessary to strengthen additional regulations and control mechanisms to ensure safety. Special attention must be paid to safety issues alongside the development of such technologies.
