Autonomous car testing plan aims to boost public confidence

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Companies testing autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh will have to immediately report crashes resulting in any injuries as part of new guidelines announced Monday intended to boost public confidence in the testing after a deadly accident in Arizona last year.

Karina Ricks, director of the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, said the city was working on guidelines before the March 18 accident in Tempe when one of Uber's autonomous test vehicles hit and killed a pedestrian as she crossed a dark road outside the lines of a crosswalk.

"The Tempe incident raised the urgency for the guidelines," Ricks said.

The Pittsburgh guidelines were included in an executive order signed by Mayor Bill Peduto on Monday.