*By Justin Chermol* Uber is laying off more than 100 test drivers in its autonomous car division in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, replacing them with 55 highly-trained drivers known as "mission specialists". It's an attempt by the ride-hailing company to prove it's serious about safety in its self-driving division after a fatal crash in Tempe, Ariz., last March. But whether real progress has been made is another story. "There's the public messaging and there is what is actually happening," said Mark Rechtin, Executive Editor at Motor Trend. "Uber is saying all the right things publicly, but the accident in Arizona has really set them back." Uber initially suspended all testing of its autonomous driving program after a pedestrian was struck and killed on March 18, but restarted some tests earlier this month. Former self-driving car operators are eligible to apply for the new roles, which must operate cars on both public roads and private tracks and are expected to give technical feedback to developers. Rechtin is optimistic about the effort, but still raised concerns. "We need to make sure whatever Uber does is something that is functional."

Share:
More In Business
Tony Hawk Partners With Citizen on CZ Smart Watch
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk is the new spokesman for Citizen's new smart watch. Cheddar News spoke with Hawk to discuss his new partnership and how the watch helps him with his wellness routine.
Stretching Your Dollar: Credit Card Debt on the Rise in the U.S.
Higher prices due to inflation combined with higher interest rates are creating a perfect storm for consumers who use credit cards, according to a Bankrate.com report. Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.com, joined Cheddar News to discuss the latest report and what consumers can do to avoid any potential issues.
Load More