Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION. NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION. A MAJOR VOTE IN INVESTIGATION. A MAJOR VOTE IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK A MAJOR VOTE IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK COULD ALLOW MORE CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK COULD ALLOW MORE DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE COULD ALLOW MORE DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO. DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO. BUT WE HAVE NEW ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO. BUT WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE BUT WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE DANGERS THEY MAY POSE. DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE DANGERS THEY MAY POSE. BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR DANGERS THEY MAY POSE. BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR NBC BAY AREA STATION BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR NBC BAY AREA STATION KNTV EXPLAINS. NBC BAY AREA STATION KNTV EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: NOW HANDS KNTV EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: NOW HANDS ON THE WHEEL. >> Reporter: NOW HANDS ON THE WHEEL. NO HANDS AT ALL. ON THE WHEEL. NO HANDS AT ALL. OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED NO HANDS AT ALL. OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED OUR RIDE, AND IT'S OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED OUR RIDE, AND IT'S THREE MINUTES AWAY. OUR RIDE, AND IT'S THREE MINUTES AWAY. >> Reporter: MORE THAN THREE MINUTES AWAY. >> Reporter: MORE THAN 2,000 SELF-DRIVING >> Reporter: MORE THAN 2,000 SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE ON THE ROAD 2,000 SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE ON THE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA. CARS ARE ON THE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA. MOST HAVE A TEST IN CALIFORNIA. MOST HAVE A TEST DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN MOST HAVE A TEST DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED. DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED. BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED. BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS HAVE NO ONE IN THE BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS HAVE NO ONE IN THE FRONT SEAT AS THEY HAVE NO ONE IN THE FRONT SEAT AS THEY MAKE DELIVERIES AND FRONT SEAT AS THEY MAKE DELIVERIES AND SHUTTLE PASSENGERS. MAKE DELIVERIES AND SHUTTLE PASSENGERS. WE TRIED A RIDE WITH SHUTTLE PASSENGERS. WE TRIED A RIDE WITH CRUISE. WE TRIED A RIDE WITH CRUISE. OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE CRUISE. OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST RIDE OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST RIDE DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES OF THE LARGEST RIDE DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO. IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO. BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO. BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO EXPAND BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO EXPAND THEIR ROBOTAXI PERMISSION TO EXPAND THEIR ROBOTAXI SERVICES INSIDE THE THEIR ROBOTAXI SERVICES INSIDE THE STATE'S LARGEST SERVICES INSIDE THE STATE'S LARGEST TESTING GROUNDS, SAN STATE'S LARGEST TESTING GROUNDS, SAN FRANCISCO. TESTING GROUNDS, SAN FRANCISCO. SO PASSENGERS CAN FRANCISCO. SO PASSENGERS CAN REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS SO PASSENGERS CAN REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR PHONES. A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR PHONES. ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR PHONES. ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR DESTINATION, THE CAR ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR DESTINATION, THE CAR DOES THE REST. DESTINATION, THE CAR DOES THE REST. YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT DOES THE REST. YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT ROUTES TO TAKE OR YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT ROUTES TO TAKE OR STREETS TO AVOID. ROUTES TO TAKE OR STREETS TO AVOID. SO IF YOU'RE USED TO STREETS TO AVOID. SO IF YOU'RE USED TO BEING A BACK SEAT SO IF YOU'RE USED TO BEING A BACK SEAT DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT BEING A BACK SEAT DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND A CAR WITH A DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND A CAR WITH A FRONT SEAT DRIVER. TO FIND A CAR WITH A FRONT SEAT DRIVER. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FRONT SEAT DRIVER. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES CAN DETECT CLOSED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES CAN DETECT CLOSED STREETS, DRIVE AROUND CAN DETECT CLOSED STREETS, DRIVE AROUND DOUBLE-PARKED CARS, STREETS, DRIVE AROUND DOUBLE-PARKED CARS, AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR DOUBLE-PARKED CARS, AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BUT GETTING EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BUT GETTING CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT BUT GETTING CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH RIDE. ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH RIDE. STATE TRANSPORTATION RIDE. STATE TRANSPORTATION RECORDS OBTAINED BY STATE TRANSPORTATION RECORDS OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS SHOW RECORDS OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS SHOW SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE NBC NEWS SHOW SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 280 SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 280 CRASHES ACROSS BEEN INVOLVED IN 280 CRASHES ACROSS CALIFORNIA OVER THE CRASHES ACROSS CALIFORNIA OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. CALIFORNIA OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. RESULTING IN AT LEAST PAST FIVE YEARS. RESULTING IN AT LEAST 64 INJURIES AND A DEAD RESULTING IN AT LEAST 64 INJURIES AND A DEAD DOG. 64 INJURIES AND A DEAD DOG. THAT INCLUDES DOG. THAT INCLUDES COLLISIONS WITH OTHER THAT INCLUDES COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS, COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS, AND CITY BUSES. VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS, AND CITY BUSES. >> A SELF-DRIVING CAR AND CITY BUSES. >> A SELF-DRIVING CAR RAN INTO ME, NO >> A SELF-DRIVING CAR RAN INTO ME, NO DRIVER. RAN INTO ME, NO DRIVER. >> Reporter: SOME DRIVER. >> Reporter: SOME ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED >> Reporter: SOME ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO CRASH REPORTS. ROAD, ACCORDING TO CRASH REPORTS. HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR CRASH REPORTS. HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR FROM THE DATA. HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR FROM THE DATA. BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN FROM THE DATA. BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY SCENES, SOMETIMES CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY SCENES, SOMETIMES PLOWING INTO CAUTION SCENES, SOMETIMES PLOWING INTO CAUTION TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE PLOWING INTO CAUTION TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE TRUCKS. TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE TRUCKS. WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT, TRUCKS. WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT, BUT CRUISE TELLS US WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT, BUT CRUISE TELLS US AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY BUT CRUISE TELLS US AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY BENEFITS. AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY BENEFITS. >> OUR CARS DON'T BENEFITS. >> OUR CARS DON'T DRIVE DRUNK. >> OUR CARS DON'T DRIVE DRUNK. THEY DON'T GET DRIVE DRUNK. THEY DON'T GET DISTRACTED. THEY DON'T GET DISTRACTED. >> Reporter: ONE OF DISTRACTED. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE LEADERS AT CRUISE. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE LEADERS AT CRUISE. >> OUR VEHICLES ARE THE LEADERS AT CRUISE. >> OUR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY >> OUR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY APPROACH A SITUATION DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY APPROACH A SITUATION THAT THEY AREN'T SURE APPROACH A SITUATION THAT THEY AREN'T SURE ABOUT, THEY'RE THAT THEY AREN'T SURE ABOUT, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO COME TO A ABOUT, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. DESIGNED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. >> BUT YOU WILL SAFE STOP. >> BUT YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN >> BUT YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN COMING TO A FULL STOP ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN COMING TO A FULL STOP CAN CREATE SAFETY COMING TO A FULL STOP CAN CREATE SAFETY ISSUES TOO. CAN CREATE SAFETY ISSUES TOO. >> Reporter: THE ISSUES TOO. >> Reporter: THE TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE >> Reporter: THE TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN. NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN. >> Reporter: JUST TO HAVE HAPPEN. >> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER THAT >> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, IT DID HOURS AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, IT DID HAPPEN, TO US. INTERVIEW, IT DID HAPPEN, TO US. OUR FIRST RIDE WITH HAPPEN, TO US. OUR FIRST RIDE WITH CRUISE WENT AS OUR FIRST RIDE WITH CRUISE WENT AS PLANNED. CRUISE WENT AS PLANNED. BUT WE THEN INVITED A PLANNED. BUT WE THEN INVITED A LONG-TIME DRIVING BUT WE THEN INVITED A LONG-TIME DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA LONG-TIME DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA BORGES TO JOIN US. INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA BORGES TO JOIN US. ON A SECOND RIDE. BORGES TO JOIN US. ON A SECOND RIDE. ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN, ON A SECOND RIDE. ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN, OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN, OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T BUDGE. LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T BUDGE. >> IT'S A VERY SAFE BUDGE. >> IT'S A VERY SAFE SITUATION FOR THE CAR >> IT'S A VERY SAFE SITUATION FOR THE CAR TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST SITUATION FOR THE CAR TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST STAYING HERE. TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST STAYING HERE. I'M NOT SURE WHY. STAYING HERE. I'M NOT SURE WHY. >> Reporter: THE CAR I'M NOT SURE WHY. >> Reporter: THE CAR EVENTUALLY INCHED >> Reporter: THE CAR EVENTUALLY INCHED FORWARD BUT KEPT EVENTUALLY INCHED FORWARD BUT KEPT STOPPING. FORWARD BUT KEPT STOPPING. >> WE'RE KIND OF STOPPING. >> WE'RE KIND OF RIDING IN TWO LANES. >> WE'RE KIND OF RIDING IN TWO LANES. >> Reporter: THEN ALL RIDING IN TWO LANES. >> Reporter: THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT >> Reporter: THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT THE GAS. OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT THE GAS. >> OH. THE GAS. >> OH. >> OKAY. >> OH. >> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S >> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING NOW. >> Reporter: OUR CAR DOING NOW. >> Reporter: OUR CAR DROVE STRAIGHT TOWARDS >> Reporter: OUR CAR DROVE STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIAN AND JUST DROVE STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIAN AND JUST STOPPED, TAKING UP THE MEDIAN AND JUST STOPPED, TAKING UP ALMOST TWO FULL LANES. STOPPED, TAKING UP ALMOST TWO FULL LANES. >> THIS IS NOT GOOD.