Uber Tries to Bring Self-Driving Cars to San Francisco
In September, Uber rolled out its self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, ushering in a new wave of transportation technology that will likely reshape our lives. The ride-sharing company partnered with Swedish automaker Volvo to convert several of the brand's XC90 SUVs into self-driving machines. For the most part, the cars will drive themselves, although Uber will have a safety driver and test engineer onboard to handle any problems that may arise.
Uber shared yesterday (December 14) that it would begin putting the autonomous SUVs on the road in San Francisco, but its plan hit a massive speed bump last night, as the company neglected to secure a permit to operate its fleet of self-driving Volvos. So, the California Department of Motor Vehicles issued a cease and desist letter ordering Uber to stop operating the vehicles.
Because there's never a dull moment when it comes to Uber, the program received another setback when it became clear that two of the vehicles ran red lights while driving in the city. A spokesperson for Uber says both incidents were investigated thoroughly and that both instances were due to human error, not the car.
Reminder: If you don't have an Uber account, you can sign up here to receive a free ride (up to $20) from TPG. Also, keep in mind that there are certain credit cards that allow you to maximize the dollars you spend when you ride with Uber or Lyft — even if there isn't a human behind the wheel.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
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Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
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