Autonomous Vehicle Runs Red Light En Route to Royal Honours Ceremony
Dashcam footage has emerged showing one of London’s pioneering driverless taxis, operated by the British start-up Wayve, committing a traffic violation by running a red light. This incident occurred as the company’s chief executive was en route to Buckingham Palace to receive an honour for his contributions to artificial intelligence.
Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve, shared the footage on social media platforms, seemingly unaware that his self-driving vehicle had flouted traffic laws in central London. He had posted a photograph of himself receiving his OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) from the Princess Royal, accompanying it with the video of what he described as an “impressive drive without intervention.” This was in response to requests from followers eager to witness the autonomous journey to the Palace.
The video documented Mr. Kendall’s vehicle navigating its way to the royal ceremony, passing through key London landmarks such as Victoria Embankment and Parliament Square.
The Incident at Parliament Square
The critical moment captured by the dashcam unfolded at the south-west corner of Parliament Square. As the Wayve car approached the junction amidst heavy traffic, it came to a halt behind a white stop line. The footage shows a bus positioned ahead of the Wayve car, partially straddling the stop line and extending beyond it. This bus was also held up by the slow-moving traffic ahead.
Subsequently, the traffic signal for that particular arm of the junction transitioned from green to red. As the traffic congestion eased, both the bus and the Wayve car proceeded through the intersection. While legally incorrect, the video suggests that this action might mirror what many human drivers would do in a similar traffic jam scenario.
Company Response and Regulatory Concerns
Following the surfacing of the footage, Wayve officially acknowledged that its vehicle had indeed run the red light. The company stated that its vehicles are still in the “prototype” stage and that a review of the incident would be conducted.
A Wayve spokesperson elaborated that all journeys are undertaken with “trained safety operators in the driver’s seat” who are responsible for monitoring the vehicle’s performance. The spokesperson admitted, “We acknowledge that the more appropriate action would have been to manually take over the vehicle and keep it stationary until a green light was visible again.”
Running a red light is a serious motoring offence in the UK, typically resulting in three penalty points on a driver’s licence and a £100 fine.
Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, raised pertinent questions regarding the enforcement of traffic laws for autonomous vehicles. He highlighted the strict licensing regime for London cabbies, where accumulating six penalty points can lead to the revocation of their licences. McNamara questioned, “Who is going to police these things and who is responsible for the points?”
Broader Implications for Autonomous Technology
This incident occurs at a time when autonomous vehicle technology is being considered for a range of societal applications. Notably, human rights lawyer Cherie Blair has suggested that driverless cars could offer a safer mode of transport for women seeking to escape abusive partners.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Mrs. Blair posited that autonomous vehicles could mitigate risks, as “male drivers can be a risk for women.” As an ambassador for the Refuge charity, she further expressed that “it would be good to see them integrated with domestic abuse charities,” underscoring the potential for technology to address sensitive social issues. The debate surrounding the safety, regulation, and broader societal integration of driverless cars continues to evolve.
