Late Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationthe federal agency in charge of road safety in the UStook the unusual step of ordering a fleet of self-driving shuttles to stop carrying passengers. The shuttles, from the French company EasyMile, were transporting or preparing to transport riders in 16 US cities. NHTSA's order allows the vehicles to continue operating on public roads, but bans them from allowing people to climb aboard.
The suspension comes after an incident in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, when a shuttle operating on the street made an emergency stop.