Automated Taxi Mayhem

To Err Is Human – To Really Muck Up Requires A Computer

Two self-driving taxi companies embarrassingly made news this week. First, while Vice-President Kamala Harris was in San Francisco, her travel was interrupted when a Waymo robotaxi got stuck in the path of the Vice-Presidential motorcade while trying to make a turn. The driverless vehicle had to be manually moved by police to unblock the route. That story comes on the heels of reports from San Francisco that parking lots with off-duty Waymo vehicles become confused and start honking at one another. Nearby residents have complained about the driverless cars honking randomly at all hours of the day and night.

In more serious news, General Motors robotaxi company, Cruise, will undergo more stringent oversight and pay a fine to settle claims by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it failed to disclose information about a crash involving one of its cars that struck and dragged a pedestrian last fall.

In October 2023, a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian nearly 20 feet before coming to a stop. The incident injured the pedestrian and resulted in a suspension of Cruise’s license to operate in California. The case prompted Cruise to recall its automated driving system. According to NHTSA, two reports Cruise provided about the event failed to disclose post-crash details and were incomplete.

Remember that all three of these stories involved vehicles with no driver behind the wheel! The Motorcycle Riders Foundation remains committed to spreading the word about the protection that all roadway users deserve from being test subjects for this new technology. If the Vice-President of the United States can have her path blocked by a driverless car, what chance does the average biker have out there?

• IIHS Studies Distracted Driving

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released details of a recent study on driver behavior when using vehicles with levels of automation. The study, done in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, should raise the eyebrows of those charged with establishing rules for this new technology (study linked below).

This initial statement from the IIHS encapsulates what many have witnessed on the road, “Drivers are more likely to multitask when using partial automation, and some manage to do so even while playing by the rules of the system’s attention requirements.” The study points to how some drivers have “mastered” the ability to prevent warnings of inactivity and thus negate the intended safeguards.

The analysis included different vehicle types and driver groups, yet in every case, drivers engaged in distracting activities more often when using the technology than while driving without it. These results clearly indicate that drivers have a false sense of security when using automated driving features.

Drivers are responsible for their actions when behind the wheel. However, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) remains troubled by marketing campaigns and narratives that intentionally or unintentionally create an overconfidence in this technology. The MRF has and will continue to raise these concerns with lawmakers and policymakers in Congress and at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Distracted driving costs lives! If this new technology encourages increased distracted driving, that is unacceptable. The MRF agrees with IIHS Senior Research Scientist Alexandra Mueller, “Better safeguards are needed to ensure that the behavior change actually translates to more attentive driving.”

Musical Chair(people)

With Congress back in town after an extended summer recess, conversations about who will be in charge come 2025 are swirling. While the Presidential contest is the main event, the narrow margins in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House also have huge implications.

The party with the majority of seats in Congress holds control of Congressional committees. So, the party with more seats also picks the chairs of the committees. Chairs set the committee agenda, decide what bills to consider and what bills to hold hearings on. Two key committees the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) focuses on, the House Energy and Commerce and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, face leadership changes.

If Republicans hold the House, the Energy & Commerce Committee will have a new head. That’s because current Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State is retiring. Her retirement leaves open the leadership of one of the most powerful committees in Congress. If the Democrats take the House, former Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey will likely take the gavel back. This committee has jurisdiction over the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Right to Repair bills, so its actions significantly impact bikers.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also may see a leadership change. Current Chair Sam Graves of Missouri faces a 6-year term limit Republicans place on committee heads. Chairman Graves is considering seeking a waiver to remain the top Republican on the committee, but it is unclear if he will receive that extension. If he is unsuccessful, several other committee Republicans have announced their plans to jump in the race. On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington State is the odds-on favorite to lead the Democrats. With a new highway bill on the horizon, the MRF is watching this race with great interest.

Congress is not a static body. Lawmakers come and go, and their power ebbs and flows. While the cast of characters is ever-changing, the MRF is here to stay. That is why the MRF has boots on the ground in D.C. to be your voice, regardless of who has the reins of power.

MRF Says Protect

Right To Repair

Congress has been on vacation for seven (7) weeks, but the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) never takes a vacation; we will not stop fighting for the rights of bikers.

This week, Kirk “Hardtail” Willard, President of the MRF, sent a letter to the Chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding “Right to Repair.” In the letter, the MRF requested that H.R. 906, known as the REPAIR ACT, move out of committee and be considered by the full House of Representatives (link to letter below).

In November 2023, the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce advanced the bill, yet eleven (11) months later, the bill remains stuck in limbo.

Our freedom to repair, modify and work on our bikes is a fundamental part of who we are as bikers. The MRF will not stop fighting for bikers, aftermarket parts dealers and the independent shops that support our lifestyles.

It is time Congress takes action!

Wall Street Journal

Investigates Tesla Autopilot

An investigative report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Tesla crashes caught our eye this week. The report used crash data submitted by Tesla to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and cross-referenced it with state accident reports. All told, WSJ evaluated 222 crashes involving Teslas.

Of those 222 crashes, 44 occurred when a Tesla, operating in Autopilot, “veered suddenly.” An additional 31 happened when the vehicles “failed to stop or yield.” Much of the report focuses on Tesla’s use of camera technology to identify surroundings on the road. Tesla relies heavily on cameras to support its automated driving system. However, other manufacturers of autonomous vehicles use a combination of technologies, including cameras, radar, and LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).

Beyond the hardware issues, the report also cited slow updates to the algorithm used to support the Autopilot system. While all video footage taken during these crashes is transmitted to Tesla, they often cite protecting their proprietary technology as a reason to keep the footage from the public. In reports to NHTSA, much of the data is redacted from public view. In analyzing some of the 222 crashes in the story, the Wall Street Journal used mechanics and hackers to download videos from crashed Teslas. This process requires physically removing the main computer from the vehicle, accessing its data, and pairing it with the video images. [To see how they do it, click the image above.]

The spotlight on Tesla and its Autopilot system is growing hotter. Last summer the Washington Post did their investigation into Tesla crashes. That story, titled: “The Shocking Toll of Tesla’s Autopilot,” included the infamous quote from former NHTSA Safety official Missy Cummings, “It’s very dangerous for motorcycles to be around Teslas.”

While media reports like this may be news to many in America, it’s not news to bikers. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has been and will remain steadfast in our engagement and focus on this issue.

Stay vigilant!

Ride Safe and Ride Free

Less Money In

More Money Out

Late last month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its projections on spending and revenue for government programs over the next decade. Included in the report was the financial outlook for the Highway Trust Fund. The Highway Trust Fund is the main source of money used to fund government surface transportation and infrastructure projects. The money in the Highway Trust Fund comes through federal fuel taxes collected on every gallon of gasoline or diesel sold in the U.S.

It is a simple idea, those who use the roads help pay for the roads when they fill up their gas tanks. Unfortunately, the funding system is starting to break down, threatening the ability to maintain our roads, bridges, and infrastructure.

The recent CBO projections show an almost $300 billion shortfall over the next decade. One of the main reasons for the shortfall is that these projections factor in recent emission rules, expected to go into effect over the next 10 years. These rules are intended to push more electric vehicles onto the roads and reducing demand for gasoline by one-third. Less gasoline sold means less revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. Mix that with the increased cost of building and maintaining our transportation network and a storm is brewing.

This funding deficit is another example of the unintended consequences of the attack on the internal combustion engine. At some point, lawmakers will be forced to address the funding gap. Rest assured, when that happens, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation will be there. The MRF will fight to ensure bikers receive fair treatment and our rights defended, regardless of the fix proposed by Congress.

Ride Safe and Ride Free

About Motorcycle Riders Foundation

JOIN the MRF
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The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) provides leadership at the federal level for states’ motorcyclists’ rights organizations as well as motorcycle clubs and individual riders. The MRF is chiefly concerned with issues at the national and international levels that impact the freedom and safety of American street motorcyclists. The MRF is committed to being a national advocate for the advancement of motorcycling and its associated lifestyle and works in conjunction with its partners to help educate elected officials and policymakers in Washington and beyond.

Louisiana Protects

Internal Combustion Engine

After eight (8) trips to Baton Rouge by ABATE of Louisiana to advocate for their 2024 Legislative Agenda, one (1) bill made it through the process to become law. ABATE brought the MRF legislative issue regarding Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to Representative Dodie Horton. ABATE explained they would like to see Louisiana in the forefront of the battle to preserve the Internal Combustion Engine and consumer choice in the type of vehicle they are allowed to purchase. She liked it and introduced HB 515. It passed the House 98-4 and the Senate unanimously. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was among the sixteen (16) Governors who wrote a letter to President Biden asking him to reconsider his Electric Vehicle (EV) mandate. Because of this stance, he signed HB 515 into law on May 28. ABATE members were proud to stand with him as he signed. HB 515 is now Act 251 and becomes effective 08/01/2024. Louisiana stands proud to be the third state in the nation, after Ohio and Kansas, to have a law protecting Internal Combustion Engines and vehicle choice.