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<keyword id="20448705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Waymo" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Waymo" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Waymo">Waymo</keyword>, the self-driving car whiz kid from Alphabet (aka Google’s big parent company), just made a splash by launching its robotaxis in Los Angeles! This means that anyone with the Waymo One app can now call up a driverless cab across a whopping 129-square-kilometre stretch of the city. It’s like having a robot chauffeur — without the awkward small talk! This isn’t Waymo’s first rodeo with robotaxis. They’ve been rolling around Phoenix since 2020 and then hit up San Francisco last year. In Los Angeles, after a short trial for some lucky early testers, Waymo opened up rides to the public. Now anyone can zip around L.A. traffic in style, with the car’s AI brain in control. Waymo’s journey started as a secret project back in 2009 and has come a long way since then. The company’s <keyword id="19967698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="self-driving-cars" source="keywords">self-driving cars</keyword> have logged over 20 million miles without any major accidents — a record that certainly leaves human drivers in the dust. Meanwhile, Waymo’s competitor, Cruise (owned by General Motors), ran into some trouble when one of its <keyword id="21485769" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="driverless-cars" source="keywords">driverless cars</keyword> was involved in an accident with a pedestrian, resulting in a license suspension in California. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="107634470" title="A crowd set fire to a Waymo taxi in San Francisco, as tensions about driverless tech grow" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>But Waymo’s big moves in the US raise an interesting question: what would happen if robotaxis rolled out in a place like India? The impact could be massive! India has millions of taxi drivers, and many rely on their daily fares to support their families. Not only is the work gruelling, such “gig workers” often earn shockingly less, and at increasingly shrinking profit margins. One source even noted earning only around Rs 30,000 a month while working as an Ola captain from Bengaluru. Thus, a widespread shift to driverless cars could be a serious blow to their livelihoods, especially in a country struggling with rampant levels of inflation. Therefore, there exists an issue of livelihoods on one hand and technological progress on the other, so if companies like Waymo ever bring robotaxis to India, it could shake things up in a big way. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="102751416" title="Sex in self-driving cars: Passengers are reportedly hooking up in San Francisco&amp;#39;s driverless taxis" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>However, on the other side of the spectrum, there are undoubtedly some benefits to moving towards a fully-automated robotaxi fleet. For instance, road accidents cause over 1,50,000 deaths annually in India. Autonomous vehicles,which are designed to follow traffic rules strictly and reduce human error, could help lower these numbers. Additionally, driverless taxis could make transportation more accessible and affordable, especially in densely populated cities with high demand. Furthermore, such robotaxis would also provide a solution for passengers who experience language barriers or inconsistent service quality, as these vehicles are designed for efficient, standardised rides. There is also the hope that they could reduce traffic congestion and pollution with AI-driven routes that minimise idle time and fuel use. Waymo may be rejoicing in the spotlight at the moment, but there are several other companies in the robotaxi race, including Tesla, which has its “Cybercab” in the works, and Amazon’s Zoox, aiming to hit the streets of Las Vegas next year. Baidu’s Apollo is already making robotaxi runs in some Chinese cities, but each company faces its own unique set of challenges. In India, where roads are a blend of honking scooters, zig-zagging rickshaws, and plenty of cows on the streets, introducing robotaxis would require some serious tech tricks and regulatory green lights. Until then, L.A. can enjoy the driverless rides while the rest of us wait to see how this wild technology shapes the future.

No Driver? No Problem! Waymo’s driverless robotaxis make Los Angeles debut — but what could the tech mean for India?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Car owners in California said a bear caused interior damage to their luxury vehicles.</li><li>The California Department of Insurance said the "bear" was actually a person in a costume.</li></ul>Four Californians said a bear damaged their luxury car, but insurers have accused them of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insurance-fraud-artificial-intelligence-detection-2023-10">insurance fraud</a> involving someone dressed in a bear costume.The California Department of Insurance <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2024/release056-2024.cfm">said in a press release</a> Wednesday that four Los Angeles-area residents — Ruben Tamrazian, Ararat Chirkinian, Vahe Muradkhanyan, and Alfiya Zuckerman — had been charged with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taiwan-student-convinced-friend-amputate-legs-insurance-scam-prosecutors-2024-3">insurance fraud</a> and conspiracy.The department said the suspects claimed in January that a bear had entered and damaged their 2010 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rolls-royce-nyc-private-office-custom-ultra-expensive-cars-2024-10">Rolls-Royce</a> Ghost, a vehicle that typically sells for about $100,000 used, while it was parked in Lake Arrowhead, California.They provided <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://vimeo.com/1029340693/2294a5bc86">video footage</a> to their insurance company, purportedly showing a bear entering the vehicle.Images of the interior showed scratches on the leather seats and on the doors, which looked like claw marks.However, CDI investigators determined that the "bear" in the footage was actually a person wearing a bear costume, the press release said.It added that detectives also uncovered two additional insurance claims involving a 2015 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mercedes-benz-hybrid-g550-g63-photos-details-2024-3">Mercedes G63 AMG</a> and a 2022 Mercedes E350, with the suspects submitting similar evidence to substantiate those claims.The CDI said the department sought advice from a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, who reviewed the footage and concluded that it showed a person in a bear costume.A search warrant led detectives to a bear costume in the suspects' home, according to the CDI.The CDI said insurance companies were defrauded out of $141,839. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.Insurance fraud is a major issue in the US. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://insurancefraud.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Impact-of-Insurance-Fraud-on-the-U.S.-Economy-Report-2022-8.26.2022.pdf">According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud</a>, it costs the country over $300 billion annually.Schemes involving car payouts are on the rise in California, New York, and Florida, Mark Friedlander, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/auto-insurance-fraud-rise-us-staged-accidents-more-brazen-than-before">told Fox Business</a> last month.Friedlander said these kinds of accidents, which often involve staged car crashes, are costing insurers tens of billions and are adding hundreds of dollars to insurance premiums.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUUR0000SETE?output_view=data">According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soaring-home-car-insurance-rates-hurting-americans-finances-us-economy-2023-11">cost of motor vehicle insurance</a> in US cities is up about 14% in 2024, from the previous year.

Car owners claimed a bear trashed their Rolls-Royce. Insurers say it was fraud involving a person in a bear suit.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ford recalled about 85,000 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles on Friday.</li><li>Ford has undergone at least three recalls this month alone, impacting millions of cars and trucks.</li></ul>Ford recalled over 85,000 police vehicles due to potential engine fires in its latest manufacturing headache.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=24V598">memo</a> this month. It affects 2020-2022 Ford Explorers with the <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employees-ask-ford-to-stop-building-and-selling-police-vehicles-2020-7">Police Interceptor Utility Package</a>."In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire," the memo said.A safety recall report said as of July 9, there were 13 reports of "under hood fires in North America resulting from engine block breaches on Explorer PIU vehicles built with 3.3L engines manufactured before June 2, 2022."Ford is not aware of any accident or injury reports related to the issue, according to the safety report.Representatives for Ford and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.<div type="image" title="The ford logo" height="3648" width="5472" msid="112595871" hostid="261" sizebytes="453894"></div>The recall is the latest misstep for Ford.Although Ford earned $1.8 billion in net income during the second fiscal quarter, the company acknowledged in a July earnings press release that its warranty reserve increase impacted its profits. The company racked up $2.3 billion in warranty and recall costs during the second quarter alone, according to The Associated Press.Ford began recalling vehicles at the beginning of the year, including more than 2 million Explorer SUVs in January because of trim-retention clips.In June, <a target="_blank" class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/half-million-ford-pickup-trucks-recalled-for-suddenly-shifting-gears-2024-6">Ford recalled</a> over half a million 2014 Model F-150 pickup trucks because of sudden gear shifts. The company then issued another recall for 2024 Ford Mustang over concerns that the steering wheel could turn unintentionally.This month, Ford recalled almost 5,000 2024 Mustang vehicles over concerns the rear suspension knuckles could fail. Then, Ford issued a "Do Not Drive" warning for over 374,000 vehicles "equipped with recalled, unrepaired Takata airbags."Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra said in a February press release that the company has taken steps to improve its quality and, in turn, its profits."We're seeing green shoots of quality improvement, including in our new-product launches — with several important ones coming up this year," Galhotra said. "Across our global industrial system we've identified and will land $2 billion in cost reductions, in areas like material, freight and manufacturing — and we're just getting started."

Ford can't stop recalling its cars

Famous personalities whose journeys ended in car tragedy

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-gig-workers-are-fighting-against-sudden-account-deactivations-2023-9">Gig workers often get booted</a> from apps they use to earn a living with little warning or explanation.</li><li>One worker for Walmart Spark said he was deactivated after a car accident when he wasn't at work.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Adrian Youngblood, an Ohio-based <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/golden-age-gig-work-instacart-doordash-delivery-jobs-over-2023-12">gig worker</a> who formerly delivered for Walmart's Spark delivery service.Business Insider has verified Youngblood's identity and former work for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-spark-support-agent-describes-tip-problems-scripted-calls-2024-2">Spark.</a> The story has been edited for length and clarity.I was going to the gas station on November 17 in my car, which I owned. There was a deluge of rain. There were bushes over to my right and a dog came out from behind them, a big dog. I had no choice: I had to swerve. I went right over the curb, right into a telephone pole.I don't see what choice I had — that's your reaction, to swerve to miss hitting something.I wasn't logged into Spark at the time. I had completed my last delivery a couple of hours prior because I don't like delivering in the rain.The car was totaled, but I gave no thought at all to whether this was going to be a work problem until December 21. That's when I got a "pre-adverse action" email from Spark, which had found out after running a background check. It said: "You have seven days to tell us your side of the story."Then, only about 20 minutes later, I got a text saying, essentially, "You're <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gig-workers-explain-how-to-get-reactivated-uber-eats-instacart-2024-2">deactivated</a>."I thought, "They'll see my side of it. Maybe the computer just automatically deactivates you when something like that comes in, and it needs a human being to look at it."I didn't get an answer from Spark until I emailed a bunch of people at the corporate office. I tried to call the driver's support, but they had no idea what I was talking about. They can't help you.Thirty-seven days after the accident, I finally got an email back and set up a meeting with an attorney. He didn't really want to hear my side of the story. He said to me, "I hate making these phone calls, but Walmart's not going to budge on this." Since then, I've heard from another lawyer who said she was going to recommend that my account be reactivated, but that was two weeks ago, and I haven't heard anything since.I still think I should be able to work until they make their final decision.If you're going to deactivate somebody, you need to say what the grounds are. For example, Spark's terms of service say nothing about a driver's license record. I've heard the words "clean driving record" before, but that's subjective.Walmart could make rules clearer by specifying the number of points you can get on your license or maybe saying you have to take a defensive driving class.It makes me feel the lines are getting very blurred here about what we as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instacart-doordash-uber-federal-rule-wont-change-gig-workers-status-2024-1">independent contractors</a> can do. They shouldn't be able to tell me what to do when things happen outside work.If I was delivering for Spark and I caused an accident, I would not fight it at all. But that's not what happened. Walmart doesn't insure me or my car or anything, so they can't claim that I'm going to cost them more going forward.I don't think they get it. This is my full-time job. This is how I supported myself.A Walmart spokesperson told BI: "Spark Driver app users are regularly screened in accordance with local law to review their criminal history or motor vehicle or moving violation record, and if they fail to meet the eligibility requirements, they may be rendered ineligible to use the Spark Driver App, per the Terms of Use. We take safety seriously, and we have these measures in place to protect our customers and the drivers on the Spark Driver platform."Do you deliver food, groceries, or other items as a gig worker and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:abitter@businessinsider.com">abitter@businessinsider.com</a>

You Searched For "car accident" and got 5 results

No Driver? No Problem! Waymo’s driverless robotaxis make Los Angeles debut — but what could the tech mean for India?

Ankush Banerjee

Car owners claimed a bear trashed their Rolls-Royce. Insurers say it was fraud involving a person in a bear suit.

Joshua Nelken-Zitser

Ford can't stop recalling its cars

Lauren Edmonds

Famous personalities whose journeys ended in car tragedy

Ayush Mehrotra

I got deactivated from the Walmart Spark app after I got in a car accident. I wasn't even working when it happened.

Alex Bitter

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