Taxi Driver Witnesses Remote-Operated Car Run Red Light in Las Vegas

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A Las Vegas taxi driver reported witnessing a car with no visible driver run a red light and turn in front of his vehicle, which had a green light. The car was operated remotely by a driver from Vay, a company that allows customers to have cars delivered and then take over driving. Vay acknowledged the incident and said it was caused by human error, but declined to provide further details.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the potential safety risks as driverless vehicle companies like Vay expand their operations in Las Vegas. It raises questions about the training and oversight of remote drivers, as well as the ability of these systems to fully comply with traffic laws.

The details

Yonas Asres, a taxi driver with 30 years of experience, was driving near the Sphere in Las Vegas when he witnessed a Vay car run a red light and turn in front of his taxi, which had a green light. Asres had to make a quick stop to avoid a collision, upsetting his two passengers. Vay acknowledged the incident in a statement, saying it was caused by human error on the part of the remote driver, and that the company has processes in place to address such situations, but declined to provide further details.

• The incident occurred about a week ago near the Sphere in Las Vegas.

What’s next

Vay has stated that it has processes in place to address such incidents, and that it is continuously working to improve its systems to prioritize safety. However, the company has declined to provide further details on what specific steps it will take in response to this incident.