The last time I visited Phoenix, I recall being shocked at far apart traffic lights were in the city. Between the Wal-marts and the giant four-to-six bedroom homes, it might be normal to see a major street have a mile between traffic lights (and presumably, crosswalks). It was very different from, say, driving in New York, San Francisco or Seattle.
I'd be curious whether "walking outside of the crosswalk" turns out to be material in the analysis by NHTSA/NTSB. Were the crosswalks big enough and close enough that a pedestrian would have normally walked inside one? Was the interchange a regular 90-degree crossing of two roads, or was it something more irregularly shaped? What is the annual rate at which pedestrians get hit at this intersection by human drivers? Do self-driving cars need more examples of "pedestrians walking outside the crosswalk" in their training sets?
I hope they aren't expecting people to only appear at intersections:
"The California Vehicle Code says you can actually cross any street as long as you aren't a hazard to vehicles. It is also legal to cross mid-block when you're not between two intersections with signals." [1]
The article points out that LA has a different rule. Uber's going to need to geofence locations and use different rulesets for different cities.
> According to Arizona law, pedestrians are supposed to cross within marked crosswalks, or at unmarked crosswalks at intersections. An unmarked crosswalk is the location where two roadways intersect but no marked crosswalk is present, for instance in a residential neighborhood. Jaywalking is technically crossing "between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation." In this instance, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
But why would state-by-state (or city) geofencing be needed for this situation? Seems like pedestrian safety would be prioritized regardless of whether the pedestrian seems to be committing jaywalking. Is there a situation in which the AI shouldn't attempt to brake if a large object appears in the street in front of it? And how big of a factor would local laws play?
Sure, but it’s illegal in most countries (AFAIK also in the US) to not use a crosswalk when you are in the vicinity of one. Eg in Austria you will be fined (or worse, drivers license suspended) if you don’t use a crosswalk that is within 50m of you.
You should be killed by an autonomous vehicle because you jay-walk under any circumstances. I hope you realize you are comparing being fined for a tiny crime and getting killed.
I'd be curious whether "walking outside of the crosswalk" turns out to be material in the analysis by NHTSA/NTSB. Were the crosswalks big enough and close enough that a pedestrian would have normally walked inside one? Was the interchange a regular 90-degree crossing of two roads, or was it something more irregularly shaped? What is the annual rate at which pedestrians get hit at this intersection by human drivers? Do self-driving cars need more examples of "pedestrians walking outside the crosswalk" in their training sets?