DEADLY DELAY
Self-driving Uber which killed a pedestrian saw victim before crash – but didn’t register her as she was jaywalking
A DRIVERLESS Uber that killed a mother-of-two failed to recognise her as a pedestrian because she was jaywalking.
Elaine Herzberg was hit by the car driving in autonomous mode when she crossed a road with her bike in Tempe, Arizona last year.
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A recent report by the US National Transportation Safety Board found the car's software was likely to be at fault because it didn't recognise her as a pedestrian as she was jaywalking.
The detailed findings also revealed the system classified her as an object, instead of a pedestrian.
The report comes as the safety board tries to determine the cause of the accident.
An early report revealed the self-driving car spotted the 49-year-old six seconds before it hit and killed her in March 2018.
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But it didn't stop because the automatic brake system had been disabled to reduce the potential for erratic driving.
The system did produce an alert to the vehicle operator however, but it was too late for the vehicle to avoid the crash.
Moments before the accident, Ms Herzberg can be seen walking across a poorly lit stretch of road.
Another interior camera also shows the reaction of the safety driver, who seconds before the impact is seen looking down.
The driver is then seen looking straight ahead again when she suddenly spots Ms Herzberg - and visibly gasps in shock before the footage cuts.
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An official decision on the cause of the accident will be made on November 19.
Earlier this year, prosecutors ruled the company is not criminally liable for her death.
In a statement, Uber said: "We deeply value the thoroughness of the NTSB's investigation into the crash and look forward to reviewing their recommendations".