An Open Letter to Mayor Mark Mitchell and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
March 19, 2018
We are writing in response to the tragic loss of life in Arizona. The reduction of vehicular accidents should be a shared goal for government and those of us in the transportation industry.
Class A Drivers has researched automated technology for the past couple years. We arrived at the conclusion that it is simply not ready for the road, yet the City of Tempe granted permission for the testing of driverless cars.
Mayor Mitchell’s promise to “temporarily suspend testing” indicates that this technology will once again find itself on the roads, endangering pedestrians and other vehicles.
In the interest of complete transparency, we have several questions for the Mayor and for the NTSB in charge of investigating this fatal crash.
To the Mayor:
- If you could reverse your previous decision, would you agree to allow the driverless cars on your city streets?
- When Uber decides to do testing again, what is your plan to ensure safety?
- What campaign contributions from Uber or other automated vehicle manufacturers have you received? And will you disavow further monies?
To the NTSB:
- How many miles have driverless cars driven before being put on the road?
- How many miles total have they driven?
- How many accidents have been recorded?
- Why was the operator behind the wheel of the automated car unable to prevent this fatality?
We believe in accountability and full disclosure. This is a potentially dangerous use of technology, and existing safety regulations have proven that they aren’t enough.
Respectfully,
Class A Drivers