Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 20-03-2018

A woman has died of her injuries after being struck by a Uber self-driving vehicle in Arizona prompting the ride-hailing company to suspend it’s autonomous-vehicle programme across the US and Canada.

Reuters reports that Monday’s accident in Tempe marked the first fatality from a self-driving vehicle, which are still being tested around the globe, and could derail efforts to fast-track the introduction of the new technology in the US.

Tempe police say at the time of the accident, the car was in autonomous mode with a vehicle operator behind the wheel.

“The vehicle was travelling northbound … when a female walking outside of the crosswalk crossed the road from west to east when she was struck by the Uber vehicle.”

A person familair with the accident says the vehicle involved in the accident was a Volvo. Local television footage of the scene showed a crumpled bike and a Volvo XC90 SUV with a smashed-in front.

A spokesman for Uber Technologies says the company was suspending its North American tests.

In a tweet, Uber expressed its condolences and said the company was fully cooperating with authorities.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143