Toyota has ceased self-driving shuttle service.
Toyota suspended shuttle service for its e-Palette self-driving car after it hit a pedestrian at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. These shuttles were announced in 2019 just before the coronavirus virus pandemic ravaged life. They were intended to transport athletes around the Paralympic Village. Toyota had to suspend shuttle service after one of them collided on Thursday with a pedestrian who was visually impaired.
According to the automaker, it is cooperating with police investigations and plans to conduct its own thorough investigation into the accident’s causes. Toyota CEO AkioToyoda stated in a YouTube video, that autonomous vehicles were “not yet realistic” for normal roads. This accident comes at a time of increased scrutiny about semi-autonomous driving systems as well as their safety and capability.
According to Reuters the shuttle hit the athlete at a speed of about 1 to 2 km per hour. The athlete was taken to the village hospital for treatment. Toyota released a statement today expressing its regret and wishing the victim a speedy recovery. The person was able walk back to their home after the accident. The pedestrian collided with the shuttle at a T-junction.
Toyoda stated in his video that a vehicle is more powerful than a person.
Toyota’s e-Palette was unveiled in 2019 with SAE Level 4 autonomous drive designed for low-speed maneuvering. The vehicle can only travel 12 miles per hour (20 km per hour). The shuttle has low floors, large doors and electric ramps so that even people in wheelchairs can easily get into and out of the vehicle. It is clear that autonomous vehicles will not become a reality until the Toyota accident.