General Motors’ Cruise Automation subsidiary has been testing its self-driving Bolt EVs with more success than not, but recently, one of the autonomous vehicles was involved in a wreck.
According to ArsTechnica, the self-driving Chevrolet Bolt EV and a motorcycle collided in California on a three-lane, one-way road. Per the police report, the self-driving Bolt EV attempted to move from the middle lane to the furthest left lane. However, a van in the left lane slowed down unexpectedly, and the Bolt EV moved back into the middle lane to avoid rear ending the van. Unfortunately, as the self-driving car moved over, a motorcyclist attempted to lane split and pass on the right. The Bolt EV struck the motorcycle, which knocked the bike and rider over.
The police report noted the Bolt EV was traveling at 12 mph, while the motorcyclist’s speed was about 17 mph. Since the motorcyclist attempted “to overtake and pass another vehicle on the right under conditions that did not permit that movement in safety,” police found the rider at fault for the accident. It’s more of a case of all the wrong things happening at the right time, but laws are laws, we suppose.
Thankfully, the rider suffered only minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for shoulder pain.
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