ROBOTAXIS...ROBOTAXIS ROBOTAXI MISTAKES BUS ADVERT
FOR PEDESTRIANS AS LONDON TRIALS LOOM
A driverless car performed a sudden emergency
stop after
mistaking a life-size movie poster on the side of a bus for real people standing in the road. The incident, involving an advert for the film The Man from UNCLE, was revealed by Professor John McDermid of University of York during a briefing at the Science Media Centre. “One of the AV companies I work with had a situation where their vehicle did a sudden emergency stop because it saw pedestrians in the road, except they weren’t,” Prof McDermid explained. “It was a life- size advert on the side of a bus, but to an AI, it was human beings. That seems very obvious [to us], but
actually, to the AI, it’s not.” The revelation comes as Waymo prepares to launch a pilot in London this April, with plans to partner with Uber later in the year. However, British experts warn that the technology still struggles with the complexities of UK streets, including roundabouts and “rule- breaking” pedestrians. Trials in York showed the vehicles are often baffled by unpredictable human behaviour, such as tourists crossing against a red light. Prof McDermid noted that while the car recognises the traffic light has turned green, it cannot always account for people still in the road. “Computer vision doesn’t under- stand what it doesn’t have models
for in the world,” he said. Safety concerns are bolstered by reports from San Francisco, where a survey of 30 school crossing guards revealed that a quarter had experienced “close calls” with AVs. A veteran lollipop lady, who survived three near-misses, recalled a parent having to snatch a child out of the way of an empty car. While proponents argue that automation could reduce the 1,600 annual deaths on British roads, many remain sceptical. Govern- ment guidance
suggests AVs
should meet the same standards as human drivers, but Prof McDermid cautioned that pedestrians should not become a “moral crumple zone” for the emerging technology.
NEW YORKERS REJECT ROBOT TAXIS OVER SAFETY AND JOB LOSS FEARS
A new poll has revealed that New Yorkers are firmly against the introduction of driverless taxis, such as Waymo, on their streets. The survey,
conducted by the
Siena Research Institute, found that a majority of residents are worried about the technology’s ability to handle chaotic traffic and bad weather, as well as the potential for massive job losses in the driving industry. The data shows that nearly 60% of people across the state would feel unsafe in a car without a human at the wheel, while only 25% of NYC residents support the use of AVs in the five boroughs. This public hesitation comes even as state leaders look to expand testing.
18
Governor Kathy Hochul recently proposed legislation to test these cars outside of the city, stating: “This initiative builds on years of successful testing demonstrations across the state and reflects grow- ing evidence that AVs can improve road safety.” While Mayor Zohran Mamdani has remained cautious about the expansion, he emphasised his commitment to the workforce, saying: “I take the arrival of AVs very seriously, and we’ll always ensure our policy and our decision- making is focused on the drivers.” Waymo defends its technology by pointing to a strong safety record. Company spokesperson Ethan Teicher argued that their service
shows a “tenfold reduction in serious injury, or worse, crashes compared to drivers where we operate.” He added that the technology would eventually make New York transportation “easier, safer, and more accessible.” However, the human cost remains the central argument for critics. Advocates for the disabled note that robots cannot assist those in wheelchairs, and union leaders see the shift as a threat to the dignity of work. Bhairavi Desai, head of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, added: “Ordinary people under- stand the threat of AVs in terms of job loss and what it means as a society to have industries that no longer value human beings.”
MARCH 2026 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
