In a recent incident in Wuhan, China, a driverless ride-hailing car operated by Chinese tech giant Baidu collided with a pedestrian. Social media users have largely sided with the carmaker, citing reports that the pedestrian was crossing against the light.
Baidu released a statement to Chinese media explaining that the autonomous vehicle began moving when the light turned green and made minor contact with the pedestrian. The individual was taken to a hospital where an examination revealed no significant external injuries, according to Baidu.
This event underscores the difficulties autonomous driving technology faces in handling complex situations, as highlighted by Chinese financial news outlet Yicai. An expert quoted by Yicai noted that the technology might struggle with unpredictable behavior, such as pedestrians or vehicles violating traffic laws.
Images shared online depict a person sitting on the street in front of the driverless car, which is equipped with rooftop sensors. Social media comments, as reported by the English-language Shanghai Daily newspaper on X, generally supported Baidu, emphasizing that the pedestrian had broken the law.
Baidu, a leading company in the development of autonomous driving in China, operates its largest “robotaxi” fleet of 300 cars in Wuhan. Wuhan, a major city in central China, was also the site of the world’s first major COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020.
The ride-hailing service, known as Apollo Go, also operates in limited areas of Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chongqing. In May, Baidu launched the sixth generation of its driverless taxi, announcing a significant reduction in unit cost to under $30,000.