Tech Autonomous bus on trial run crashes into tree, injuring three passengers

[thomas]

On Friday morning in Hachioji, Tokyo, a self-driving trial bus left the road and collided with a tree beside a national highway. Fourteen people were on board, including the driver, and three passengers received minor injuries. Police at Takao Station stated that the vehicle was operating at "Level 2," which requires a driver to be present and able to take control if needed. The driver told officers that he had not been steering at the time the accident occurred. The crash happened on a straight stretch of a two-lane road, and investigators are now trying to determine what went wrong.

On Friday morning in Hachioji, Tokyo, a bus taking part in autonomous driving tests veered onto the sidewalk and struck a tree along a national highway.

Trial Self-Driving Bus Collides with Street Tree; Three Passengers Injured

<p>A bus involved in autonomous driving trials mounted the sidewalk, resulting in a collision with a tree on the side of a national highway in Hachioji in Tokyo on Friday morning.</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

The male driver reportedly said that he was not operating the steering wheel. The accident occurred on a straight, two-way road. Police are investigating the cause. Scheduled from August 23 to 31, the Tokyo metropolitan government had been conducting a demonstration trial on a one-way section of approximately 2.6 kilometres, starting from the north exit of JR Takao Station. The Tokyo Metropolitan government suspended the prosecution following the incident.

Trial Self-Driving Bus Collides with Street Tree; Three Passengers Injured

<p>A bus involved in autonomous driving trials mounted the sidewalk, resulting in a collision with a tree on the side of a national highway in Hachioji in Tokyo on Friday morning.</p>

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp