NHTSA demands autonomous car makers fix interference with first responders

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding action from autonomous vehicle manufacturers after identifying what it calls "a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders" in recent months. Jonathan Morrison, the agency's administrator, sent a letter to developers urging them to focus resources on fixing the issue immediately, emphasizing that emergency situations are not rare "edge cases."

While the NHTSA did not provide specific examples, news reports have documented self-driving vehicles obstructing ambulances and fire trucks for years. In March, after a deadly shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, a Waymo vehicle blocked an ambulance responding to the incident. An officer had to manually drive the robotaxi out of the way, costing precious minutes. According to Wired, emergency first responder leaders told regulators during a March meeting that they were frustrated with the behavior of autonomous vehicles on the streets, noting they had to spend time during emergencies dealing with frozen or stuck cars.

Officials from San Francisco and Austin, where Waymo's robotaxi service has been operating for some time, reported that the company's vehicles have been worsening, with increased traffic violations. San Francisco Fire Department Chief Patrick Rabbitt said Waymo vehicles have been freezing and blocking fire stations and trucks. Austin officials echoed this, adding that Waymo cars fail to recognize first responders' hand signals. Dealing with these robotaxis is costing them time and hindering their ability to respond to emergencies promptly.

"Every second matters when law enforcement officers, firefighters, or paramedics are answering a call because lives are on the line. That is why human drivers who impede these operations are subject to fines and even jail time," Morrison wrote. "So, when an AV disrupts first responders or impedes an emergency vehicle, it ceases to be a minor software anomaly. The technology driving alongside them must support their efforts and get out of the way, not disrupt their life saving mission or compound the dangers they face." Morrison said the NHTSA will schedule meetings with autonomous vehicle makers by the end of July to hear their solutions, giving them less than a month to respond.