Consumer Watchdog Asks Google To Release Accident Reports for Driverless Cars

Consumer Watchdog wrote Google CEO Larry Page and Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt Monday, asking the company to release the accident reports filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles for its driverless cars and to “commit to making public all future driverless car accident reports.” Google’s robot cars have been involved in accidents, but the DMV treats driverless car accident reports confidentially and doesn’t release them in response to a Public Records Act request, the group said in a news release. Consumer Watchdog Privacy Project Director John Simpson wrote in the letter that it’s important the public know what happened because Google is “testing driverless vehicles on public highways, quite possibly putting other drivers at risk.” Google plans to offer robot cars “without a steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator,” which would make it impossible for a person to take control in an emergency, Simpson said in the news release. Consumer Watchdog also asked Google to release reports on when the robot technology was disengaged and a test driver assumed control over the vehicle. “Google has engaged in a highly visible public relations campaign extolling the supposed virtues of driverless cars,” the letter said. “It is incumbent upon you to be candid about the cars’ failings and shortcomings as well.” Google didn't comment.