A self-driving bus hit a pedestrian in Vienna and stopped Austrian trials of the technology.
Austrian authorities are investigating why a driverless bus struck a pedestrian in Vienna, an incident that resulted in minor injuries but paused the trials of two autonomous buses while it awaits the results of an investigation into the incident.
Last week a 30-year-old woman collided with an autonomous bus operated by the self-driving startup Navya. The woman sustained only minor injuries. The city’s authority has paused the trials of the technology while it awaits the results of an investigation into the incident.
It is currently unclear who was at fault for the collision. State broadcaster ORF reported that the Navya SAS vehicle was driving at about 7.5 miles an hour when it struck the knee of a pedestrian. On the other hand, in a statement, Navya claimed that witnesses had seen the woman wearing headphones and looking at her mobile phone as she was crossing the street and “walking against” the side of the bus. Navya said the woman suffered minor scratches as a result of the incident.
The Navya SAS vehicle was driving at 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) an hour on Thursday when it struck a 30-year-old woman in the knee, according to state broadcaster ORF. Vienna’s transit authority suspended further trials pending the outcome of the investigation.
Vienna has been testing two driverless buses under a self-driving project that started June 6. The Austrian Institute of Technology and Siemens mobility are also participating in the program. A professional driver on board was required when the vehicles were operating.
According to Bloomberg.
