Watch: 'Driverless' car crashes into police van after internet outage in Islamabad
A remotely operated driverless car crashed into a police van in Islamabad after losing its internet connection during a public demonstration. The operator clarified that the incident was a technical failure and emphasized the need for rigorous testing before deploying automated driving technologies.
Why it matters
The incident serves as a cautionary tale regarding the reliability of remote-controlled autonomous systems and the risks of testing them in public spaces.
A remotely operated driverless car crashed into a police van in Islamabad after losing its internet connection during a demonstration, with footage of the incident going viral and sparking a wave of memes online.According to local media, the incident took place at D-Chowk, a high-security area in the Pakistani capital, where journalist Muhammad Aalijah was recording a video of a technology-based automated-driving system developed by Abbottabad-based technology enthusiast Ehsan Zafar. The car was being controlled remotely over the internet when a sudden connectivity failure caused its steering to malfunction.Footage shared by Aalijah shows him sitting in the front passenger seat as he explains the vehicle's features while it moves along the road.
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