Mountain View, California - It was billed as the futuristic vehicle that would make us all safer behind the wheel.
But it seems that Google’s driverless cars are just as vulnerable as the usual variety when it comes to the main hazard on roads – other drivers.
A Lexus RX designed by the tech giant has been involved in its first crash that resulted in injuries to passengers. Three people on board were left with minor whiplash when another driver crashed into the back of them at a traffic light.
The collision happened in Mountain View, California, near to the Google campus, according to Chris Urmson, who is leading the company’s driverless car project. He said they are being hit “surprisingly often” but blamed other drivers who were “distracted and not paying attention to the road”.
Google believes its self-driving technology will be safer and more efficient than human-driven cars. The vehicles have sensors and cameras to guide them and prevent collisions.
In the UK, the Government is considering legal changes that would allow driverless cars on the roads.
Daily Mail