The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cleared EasyMile vehicles to operate in the United States following suspension after an autonomous shuttle made a sudden stop in Ohio earlier this year.
EasyMile worked with NHTSA to develop the Safety Passenger Enhancement Plan that the company says provides itself, as well as the wider autonomous shuttle industry in North America, with guidelines for all autonomous shuttles imported into the U.S.
“We’re excited about continuing to demonstrate and deliver the benefits of autonomous shuttles to the U.S. in the safest way possible, and in alignment with NHTSA,” said Sharad Agarwal, senior vice president of EasyMile Inc.
The company’s EZ10s are involved in demonstration projects in 16 U.S. cities and services will start up progressively as COVID-19 measures allow, and, as vehicle updates from the new plan are implemented.
The plan calls for an increase in awareness that sudden stops can happen for safety reasons, adding more signage, making audio announcements and enhancing safety operator training to remind passengers to hold on with feet firmly on the floor. EasyMile U.S.-based shuttles will also be equipped with seat belts.
The sudden stop incident in Ohio was determined to have occurred due to a slight deviation in the vehicles steering. Smart Columbus, which oversees the Linden LEAP service, where the sudden stop occurred, noted that while added precautions can be put in place and improvements made to reduce sudden stops, they can not be eliminated completely.
“We’re on the cusp of a transport revolution and these projects provide the opportunity for the community to be part of the journey and the learning process. To see the benefits and see the future,” said Agarwal. “We hope what comes out of this is an understanding of how safe and beneficial autonomous shuttles are to communities, and that it helps improve safety and service for all self-driving vehicles on the road in the future, and today.”