The experiment of self-driving taxis in San Francisco by GM’s Cruise unit has been suspended following multiple injuries to pedestrians.

Yesterday the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)  suspended Cruise’s deployment and testing permits, effective immediately.

 

Cruise received permission to operate a non-stop robotaxi service  in August. One week later, the DMV ordered cruise to reduce its San Francisco robotaxi fleet by half after one of them caused a traffic jam.

“When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits,” says the  DMV.

The DMV pointed to regulations that: “the Department determines the manufacturer’s vehicles are not safe for the public’s operation,” and “the manufacturer has misrepresented any information related to safety of the autonomous technology of its vehicles.”

“Any act or omission of the manufacturer or one of its agents, employees, contractors, or designees which the department finds makes the conduct of autonomous vehicle testing on public roads by the manufacturer an unreasonable risk to the public,” is another regulation cited by the DMV.

Last week, federal  regulators announced they were investigating Cruise following multiple reports of pedestrian injuries.