Company's Vehicles are Unfit to Operate
in U.S.'s Fourth-Largest City
HOUSTON, June 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement
from Robert Mele, President of Teamsters Joint Council 58,
regarding Cruise's announcement that Houston will be the second city for it to
resume operations:
"The Teamsters represent thousands of Texans who turn a key for
a living. Neither workers nor the general public feel safe
operating next to Cruise vehicles or any other robotaxi, and for
good reason.
"Cruise is still the same company that had to suspend operations
nationwide after a string of safety incidents where its vehicles
left a pedestrian grievously injured, collided with fire
trucks, blocked waste trucks, nearly collided with
children in two separate incidents, caused a massive traffic jam
outside of a music festival, and triggered a 20-car pileup in a
tunnel. These are still the same vehicles that reportedly came
within inches of colliding with a child and had difficulty
recognizing them on camera.
"Cruise hasn't done anything remotely close to repairing the
public trust it lost following these failures. This company
shouldn't be present anywhere — with or without a human operator —
while it's still under federal investigation.
"This isn't a Republican or a Democrat issue. This is a safety
issue. We encourage policymakers and other stakeholders to call for
accountability from Cruise and other driverless car and truck
companies before, and not after, they have a chance to operate on
our roads."
Teamsters Joint Council 58 represents thousands of workers
throughout Texas.
Contact:
Matt McQuaid, (202)
624-6877
mmcquaid@teamster.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 58