AI Case Study
Transdev North America is ordered to stop self-driving school bus pilot project due to the participation of children
Transdev North America began piloting an autonomous vehicle project involving a school bus transporting children in Florida. However, it had not obtained proper permission from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which ordered the pilot be stopped on the basis that any self-driving vehicle project involving children is an inherently unacceptable risk.
Industry
Public And Social Sector
Education And Academia
Project Overview
"The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a letter directing Transdev North America to immediately stop transporting school children in the Babcock Ranch community in Southwest Florida on the EZ10 Generation II driverless shuttle. Transdev’s use of the driverless shuttle to transport school children is unlawful and in violation of the company’s temporary importation authorization. Transdev has informed NHTSA that it will stop unapproved operations."
Reported Results
Project blocked on the basis of being illegal.
Technology
Function
Operations
General Operations
Background
"In March 2018, NHTSA granted Transdev permission to temporarily import the driverless shuttle for testing and demonstration purposes. Transdev requested permission to use the shuttle for a specific demonstration project, not as a school bus. Transdev failed to disclose or receive approval for this use. School buses are subject to rigorous Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that take into account their unique purpose of transporting children, a vulnerable population."
Benefits
Data