California hits pause on GM Cruise self-driving cars due to safety concerns

The United States state of California has suspended testing of Cruise self-driving cars developed by General Motors (GM), citing safety concerns after a series of accidents and mishaps. California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced on Tuesday that it had suspended the deployment of GM self-driving vehicles and driverless testing permits, the latest regulatory agency to express concerns over their safety. "When there is an unreasonable risk to public safety, the DMV can immediately suspend or revoke permits," the department said in response to an inquiry from the news outlet AFP. Self-driving cars have been met with mixed reactions from the public, some of whom see them as an exciting technological development while others view them as a nuisance or a hazard. The suspension follows a series of accidents involving Cruise vehicles and marks a serious setback for GM's efforts to break into the autonomous vehicle industry.