Lessons From the Cruise Robotaxi Pedestrian Dragging Mishap

A robotaxi dragged a pedestrian 20 feet down a San Francisco street on the evening of 2 October 2023, coming to rest with its rear wheel on that woman’s legs. The mishap was complex, involving a first impact by a different, human-driven vehicle. The following weeks saw Cruise stand down its road operations amid allegations of withholding crucial mishap information from regulators. The pedestrian has survived her severe injuries, but the robotaxi industry is still wrestling with the aftermath.