--- title: "Feds Reportedly Investigating Driverless Taxis After They Wreak Havoc in San Francisco" description: "The federal government is looking into a self-driving taxi company after its second reported collision with another vehicle." date: "2022-07-08" modified: "2022-07-08" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/cruise-driverless-nhtsa-invstigation" categories: - "Advanced Transport" tags: - "driverless cars" - "gm" - "gm cruise" - "self driving car" - "the digest" --- # Feds Reportedly Investigating Driverless Taxis After They Wreak Havoc in San Francisco ![The federal government is looking into a self-driving taxi company after its second reported collision with another vehicle.]() *\Image: Cruise\* ## Crash Course The federal government is reportedly investigating self-driving taxi company Cruise after its second reported collision, which took place just after the company was granted a permit to begin charging for driverless rides. As [*Reuters* reports](), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating General Motors' Cruise driverless vehicle division following a June 3 collision in San Francisco that reportedly [caused "minor" injuries]() to passengers inside both one of its autonomous cars and a Toyota Prius. ## Routine Probe Though the June 3 crash wasn't the first time a Cruise robotaxi had been involved in a [collision]() or [a near-miss](), its timing — which occurred a day after the company was [granted a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission]() to commercialize its fleet — makes the NHTSA investigation all the more interesting. Oddly enough, Cruise has since denied reports of the NHTSA investigation, [telling *MarketWatch*]() that the agency "has not opened a formal investigation into Cruise for this or any other incident," characterizing the investigation as a "routine" probe. ## Shut Down Autonomous Cruise vehicles have reportedly been causing major headaches on the streets of San Francisco as of late. The company had been operating a free late-night driverless taxi service until the end of June [without safety drivers](), before getting permission to [begin charging customers for rides](). Just over a week ago, [a number of Cruise vehicles all shut down at once]() causing a major traffic jam in the already traffic-riddled city. [As *Wired* reports](), the same thing happened in May as well when the company lost contact with its entire fleet. A Cruise employee anonymously contacted the California Public Utilities Commission after the May incident, according to a letter reviewed by *Wired*, adding that the same issue happens "with regularity." All things considered, the fact that there had been a number of reports with [issues surrounding]() [Cruise vehicles]() prior to the permits being issued is certainly eyebrow-raising. It's likely we'll hear more about incidents involving Cruise's robotaxis in the near future. *Do you work at the National Highway Transit Safety Administration, the California DMV, the California Public Utilities Commission, GM/Cruise, or any other related entity and/or have more information about driverless taxi crashes? Email us at* *[tips@futurism.com]().* **READ MORE:** [U.S. agency probing self-driving Cruise car crash in California]() \[*Reuters*\] **More on Cruise issues:** *[GM's Robotaxis Are Now Collecting Fares With No Safety Drivers]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()