Cruise Fined $1.5 Million for Not Reporting Robotaxi Crash with Pedestrian

Last October, a Cruise autonomous vehicle was involved in an incident where it hit a pedestrian and subsequently dragged her 20 feet after she had been initially struck by a human driver in a hit-and-run event. Following the incident, Cruise acknowledged that its vehicle had struck a pedestrian but did not disclose details about the victim being dragged. Consequently, the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended the GM-backed company’s permit to operate self-driving cars in the state, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to launch an investigation.

The NHTSA has now announced a $1.5 million penalty as part of a broader consent order with Cruise that includes additional safety and disclosure requirements. The company had submitted several incomplete reports to the agency, which mandates timely crash reports based on the severity of incidents.

According to the consent order, Cruise’s initial report to the NHTSA, filed a day after the incident, failed to mention that the Cruise vehicle had dragged the pedestrian. An additional report filed 10 days later also omitted this critical detail.

NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety and transparency in the development of automated driving systems, stating, “NHTSA is using its enforcement authority to ensure operators and manufacturers comply with all legal obligations and work to protect all road users.”

After the permit suspension, Cruise engaged a law firm to investigate the events leading to the incident. The firm’s report indicated that the company had attempted to send a 45-second video to regulators showing its vehicle dragging the victim, but faced “internet connectivity issues.” Furthermore, Cruise employees did not highlight the dragging incident in subsequent communications with regulators.

Steve Kenner, Cruise’s chief safety officer, stated, “Our agreement with NHTSA is a step forward in a new chapter for Cruise, building on our progress under new leadership, improved processes, and culture, and a firm commitment to greater transparency with our regulators. We look forward to continued close collaboration with NHTSA as our operations progress, in service of our shared goal of improving road safety.”

Additional penalties could be forthcoming, as the company is also under investigation by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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