A Baidu self-driving robotaxi ends up in a construction ditch with a passenger inside, and the company's comment is noteworthy: "Safety comes first for us."

Navigating a constantly moving city requires extremely reliable autonomous driving technology. Every decision the system makes must respond immediately to unexpected urban situations, from a pedestrian crossing the right of way to a poorly marked construction site.

The promise of these types of vehicles is to reduce accidents and optimize traffic flow, but achieving this is not enough simply to comply with regulations: precision in detecting obstacles and responding to changing environments are crucial to ensuring that journeys run smoothly.

In the Chinese city of Chongqing, a Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi carrying a passenger ended up in a construction pit, local media reported. The woman escaped unharmed thanks to the help of neighbors who brought a ladder to help her climb out of the hole, as reported by Southern Metropolis Daily and Huashang Newspaper .

In footage shared on Chinese social media, a white vehicle bearing Baidu's Apollo logo was seen stuck in what appeared to be a deep ditch. The footage was widely shared and sparked comments about the incident and the trust these services deserve.

A local merchant told Huashang Newspaper that the area was protected with barriers and visible warnings. However, it is still unknown how the autonomous vehicle accessed the perimeter marked for the construction site.

The incident has rekindled the debate about the control and oversight measures that should be applied to autonomous taxis in complex urban environments. The conversation has focused not only on the technology but also on the role that signaling and infrastructure maintenance play in preventing similar incidents.

The company responsible for the service stated that it wants to maintain the trust of its customers: "Safety comes first for us." Local authorities and the company are investigating the exact causes to determine what went wrong and prevent a repeat of this type of incident. Although rare, similar incidents have already been reported around the world with other companies.