Rivian (driver) blamed for death of a teen hit in school parking lot

[SoCal Rob]

Yeah I totally understand what you mean and I will look into it more, but I am certain it is not cruise control in these situations. SC had ruled that out as well. I'm sure it will happen again and I plan on pulling over immediately this time to check any CC settings. Either way I have to drop it off soon for a scheduled maintenance so I am going to make a huge deal about it. Which in turn will mean they have it for a month but whatever

You may already be doing this, but when it happens in the future, please turn your hazard lights on and off or long-press your profile name on the main display to flag the event. This should help service when they look for it.

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[SoCal Rob]

If he forgot which pedal is which, the driver could have done the same mistake in any vehicle. The fact that it's a rivian is irrelevant.

Maybe. First, I think pedal confusion is more likely in vehicles which permit OPD. Second, I don’t think there are many (any?) ICE vehicles which have the mass of a Rivian and the acceleration from a stop of a Rivian. This speaks to the severity.

If the driver was in a Ford Bronco Sport, as an example, they may have hit the victim but it probably would’ve been a story about injuries to a student rather than the tragic death of a student.
Edit: clarified second point.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Willing to bet it's simply another case of user error. If it was the fault of the car, like so many are willing to blame to suit their personal bias, how many cars have Rivian delivered? If that asinine theory were true there'd be a lot more casualties. Not just one isolated incident that is making the usual trolls giddy.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

If he forgot which pedal is which, the driver could have done the same mistake in any vehicle. The fact that it's a rivian is irrelevant.

Irrelevant to who?

Accident investigators?
Owners of that vehicle make/model?
General Audience?

The way I see it -> The vehicle type is very relevant as some vehicles will be more prone to unintended acceleration than others. In fact in some vehicles the driver isn't supposed to be able to make this mistake as the vehicle will override it.

We shouldn't rely on technology to save us, but we should certainly expect technology to work. When it fails we need to ask why. Why the technology screwed up is as relevant to the discussion as why the driver screwed up. Especially when that vehicle is made by either Tesla or Rivian. Both companies and others are actively developing systems that offer increasingly advanced driving aids.

In any case its a fact like all the facts we know.

The driver was young -> Relevant
The driver was female -> Irrelevant
The driver was picking up her sister -> Irrelevant
The vehicle was an EV -> Relevant (due to making no noise and fast acceleration)
The vehicle was heavy -> Relevant due to physics
The vehicle was a very powerful EV -> Relevant due to how fast it is.
The Vehicle was a Rivian -> Relevant due to establishing what safety features the vehicle has and doesn't have.
Vehicle Model -> Relevant for understanding pedal position. In my time on Rivian forums I don't see this issue ever really being mentioned.
The Vehicle was an SUV -> Relevant in terms of pedestrian safety

 

[Nacho Rivian]

Horrible and unfortunate news of a young man struck and killed.

The news article calls Rivian out specifically. https://ktla.com/news/local-news/teenage-boy-gravely-injured-in-parking-lot-of-l-a-school/

Why would you post this unrelated news? This is nothing to do with Rivian.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Willing to bet it's simply another case of user error. If it was the fault of the car, like so many are willing to blame to suit their personal bias, how many cars have Rivian delivered? If that asinine theory were true there'd be a lot more casualties. Not just one isolated incident that is making the usual trolls giddy.

Where are you getting the "so many willing to blame"?

Where is this coming from? This thread is only 4 pages.

My response to this thread was a question to Rivian about whether they planned on implementing a feature Tesla has where it prevents the car from accelerating into a pedestrian or car. For me preventing a future incident is the most important aspect, and we own a vehicle that can in theory prevent this kind of incident from happening.

As to user error I would say that sometimes that's a UX issue. Like the pedal positioning or some other aspect. The vast majority of unintended acceleration incidents are user error, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to see how elements that are unique to EV's or a Rivian play into it.

Rivian did correct for a related UX issue involving regen where they now offer a mode that offers a mix of regen+braking for it to be more consistent. That was a welcome addition. I do have that mode turned off, but I turn it on when someone else drives my vehicle.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Where are you getting the "so many willing to blame"?

Where is this coming from? This thread is only 4 pages and not that many people have replied.

My response to this thread was a question to Rivian about whether they planned on implementing a feature Tesla has where it prevents the car from accelerating into a pedestrian or car. For me preventing a future incident is the most important aspect.

As to user error I would say that sometimes that's a UX issue. Like the pedal positioning or some other aspect.

Rivian did correct for a related UX issue involving regen where they now offer a mode that offers a mix of regen+braking for it to be more consistent.

The vast majority of unintended acceleration incidents are user error.

Who dis? What gave you the idea I was targeting you? I didn't even quote you. I didn't even type your name. Paranoid much? I was commenting on people who keep sharing this isolated incident, and specifically in Rivian owner/enthusiast platforms, as if it was some sort of significant gotcha.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Its a accident unless proven otherwise. I feel for all involved and knowing the parents of victim having to burry their child. That's just awful.

Now for all the lowlifes to pile on.

Absolutely on the first part, but this isn't facebook like your second line is implying.

 

[s4wrxttcs]

Who dis? What gave you the idea I was targeting you? I didn't even quote you. I didn't even type your name. Paranoid much? I was commenting on people who keep sharing this isolated incident, and specifically in Rivian owner/enthusiast platforms, as if it was some sort of significant gotcha.

I didn't feel like you were targeting me.

I was trying to make sense of what you wrote based on things written in this thread. I didn't think anyone in this thread had an agenda or a personal bias.

It is an isolate incident, but I feel like its preventable. It's not a gotcha, but has room for improvement in terms of active safety.

In fact its very rare that a Rivian has a fatality or caused a fatality.

Anyways you answered my question. That you were getting it from other platforms and not this thread specifically.

 

[Rizzian]

So the driver is now responsible... The local PD issued a press release on Friday indicating that this was a tragic accident and the driver was not being cited.
I wonder what changed the narrative?
Eyewitnesses? Driver confession? Video Footage?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

So the driver is now responsible... The local PD issued a press release on Friday indicating that this was a tragic accident and the driver was not being cited.
I wonder what changed the narrative?
Eyewitnesses? Driver confession? Video Footage?

Or vehicle data.

 

[JM.]

Yesterday I read a story about another vehicle death, and they gave full details that it was a gold Kia something. They just do that.

 

[Rizzian]

Or vehicle data.

I figured it might be too soon for them to have vehicle data... I'd assume that in this case Rivian would want the authorities to have this info ASAP (particularly if that data shows that there was no fault by the vehicle itself), but surely there is a process by which a police investigation is required to request driver data via a warrant or court order before the manufacturer just hands it over? I can't remember what I electronically signed when I took ownership, who could possibly read all of those Big Beautiful terms and conditions in their entirety.

 

[Aykutcan87]

I will say that Rivian’s collision prevention has a good alert system but the control is really bad. If your foot slips and hit the gas pedal, it will go full acceleration no matter the obstacle ahead. That should be a better prevention if you are accelerating from a standstill position (not at high speed).

 

[comtns]

I have to say HS drop off/pick up is one of the most dangerous things I have done. Kids running through the parking lot, drivers in a rush, not enough space all around. I hated doing that and did it for 7 years, 2 kids.

I see the long lines of cars for after school pickup. It always strikes me as a risk, compared to the bus-or-walk school transport of my youth, decades ago. Why does everyone pick up their kids now?

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