Uber says it's suspending its self-driving car tests in the U.S. after a fatal accident in Arizona. <br />It is reported to be the first time a pedestrian has been killed by an autonomous vehicle, sparking further fears of self-driving technology.<br />Ro Aram reports. <br /> Sunday's accident could deal a huge blow to not only Uber's long-term business model and strategy, but the general idea of having self-driving cars out on public roads.<br />Uber has consistently touted that its driverless cars are safer than vehicles driven by humans. <br />But, autonomous cars have been prone to accidents, with some being caught running red lights and others even colliding with other traffic.<br />But now that a pedestrian has been killed, the technology has once again come under fire. <br />Police said the Volvo was in self-driving mode with a supervisor behind the wheel when the 49-year-old woman, identified as Elaine Herzberg, was hit.<br />She later died in hospital. <br />Uber expressed its condolences on twitter, adding it is fully cooperating in the investigation. <br /> The issue has also raised questions about legislation related to autonomous driving, especially amid a fierce battle between carmakers to master the technology. <br />In the U.S., the federal government has voluntary guidelines for companies that want to test autonomous vehicles, leaving much of the regulation up to states. <br />Although there has been a gradual increase in legislation, many are still wary of the technology. <br /> Sunday's incident will only add to those fears and will likely spark significant calls for reform and reflections within the industry.<br />Ro Aram, Arirang News. <br />
