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February 27, 2020 02:44 PM

Columbus halts self-driving shuttle pilot program; NHTSA steps in

Alexa St. John
Automotive News
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    EasyMile photo

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—A passenger fell aboard a self-driving shuttle that was part of a pilot program in Columbus. The incident has put the project on hold less than three weeks after it began.

    The daily shuttle service in the Linden neighborhood in Columbus was halted after one of the pilot's vehicles from French manufacturer EasyMile made a sudden stop around noon on Feb. 20. One passenger fell from her seat to the floor of the shuttle as a result.

    The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, on Feb. 25, ordered a suspension of passenger operations for 16 autonomous shuttles operated by EasyMile in 10 U.S. states including Utah, Texas, Colorado, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio, California and Virginia pending an examination of "safety issues related to both vehicle technology and operations."

    The safety agency said it "will continue to work with all affected parties, including EasyMile and local authorities, to evaluate potential future vehicle operations, consistent with applicable legal requirements and public safety."

    EasyMile said the suspension followed an incident in which a passenger fell from a seat, while the shuttle was driving 7 miles per hour "and made an emergency stop as it is programmed to do for safety."

    The company said the vehicles still were allowed on U.S. roads, but cannot carry passengers, while NHTSA is performing its review. That was "a clear indication it considers them safe for other road users," the company said, adding it was "running test loops on the ground for further analysis."

    The Columbus shuttle—coined the LEAP, or Linden Empowers All People—is a program of Smart Columbus, the city's smart mobility initiative.

    According to local reports, the passenger requested medical attention after the fall, and medics took her to Ohio State University Hospital East with minor injuries. No further details about the injuries the woman sustained have been released.

    The shuttle service was first approved by the Columbus City Council in May 2019 as part of a $1.1 million contract with EasyMile.

    The two, all-electric, 12-person EasyMile EZ10 shuttles are funded through a $40 million U.S. Department of Transportation Smart City Challenge grant that Smart Columbus received in 2016.

    The service started this month and was expected to run through February 2021. A human operator was slated to accompany each ride. The pilot tracked a 2.9-mile route with four stops. The shuttles can go up to 25 mph.

    EasyMile, an autonomous transportation company, has a pilot program through North Carolina State University and the N.C. Department of Transportation and is also part of a larger partnership among the University of Florida's Transportation Institute, the Florida Department of Transportation and the city of Gainesville.

    EasyMile also works with supplier Continental and others.

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