Fire Hoses and Robotaxis
A video of two robotaxis and several human-driven cars in San Francisco treating a scene secured by the fire department for an apartment fire is currently making the rounds. In the video, a Cruise followed by a Waymo can be seen stopping in front of a fire hose lying in the street. While the Cruise stops with its hazard lights on, the human drivers drive over the hose. The Waymo also overtakes the stationary Cruise and drives over the hose.
The discussion now turns to the question of who reacts right and wrong. Is it allowed to drive over a fire hose and does it matter if it is filled with water or not, as seen in the video? Even though the comments of the resident who took the video, as well as some comments in the Twitter feed, suggest that the Cruise got stuck here, is blocking traffic and thus reacted incorrectly, California Vehicle Code 21708 clearly states the following:
No person shall drive or propel any vehicle or conveyance upon, over, or across, or in any manner damage any fire hose or chemical hose used by or under the supervision and control of any organized fire department. However, any vehicle may cross a hose provided suitable jumpers or other appliances are installed to protect the hose.
The Cruise robotaxi was the only vehicle that reacted correctly and according to the regulations. Both the Waymo robotaxi and the human drivers are breaking the law. What the Cruise still has to learn is to turn around in such a situation and find an alternative route. But if you want to see how important it is to finally get autonomous cars on the roads and take the wheel out of the hands of humans, here’s a good example. Without exception, all human drivers have broken the law and possibly endangered human lives.
This article was also published in German.
