Uber shuts down its self-driving tests in Arizona after fatal crash

Ride-hailing service Uber has completely shut down all of its self-driving testing programs in Arizona, following the tragic car crash that occurred two months ago.

Uber has closed its self-driving testing program in Arizona and has reportedly fired 300 employees at the program, mostly test drivers or ‘vehicle operators’, two months after one of its self-driving cars was involved in a fatal accident, informed the company.

Though at that time, test drivers were still being paid until the firings, but the company says that it will give career coaching and job help for its Arizona employees, reported Mashable. The full shutdown is expected to take a few weeks, however, Uber's ride-hailing and food delivery services in Arizona will continue as usual.

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The self-driving tests have been in progress in Arizona since 2016, but were brought to pause following the March crash that killed a pedestrian. The testing was also suspended by the Arizona governor’s office for an indefinite time period.

The crash is still under investigation by the Tempe police and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), whereas, a settlement was reached by Uber with the victim’s family two weeks after crash. Uber says that the tests will be restarted in other locations such as Pittsburgh as soon as the Arizona crash investigations are completed. However, in those locations, the company will ‘drive in a much more limited way’, as per an internal email obtained by Ars Technica.

“We’re committed to self-driving technology, and we look forward to returning to public roads in the near future. In the meantime, we remain focused on our top-to-bottom safety review, having brought on former NTSB Chair Christopher Hart to advise us on our overall safety culture,” a spokesperson for Uber said in a statement to The Verge.