Duck Killed by Self‑Driving Car Raises Concerns in Austin

A duck that had been nesting near a local Italian restaurant was hit and killed by an autonomous vehicle in the Mueller Lake area of Austin. The incident sparked anger among residents who had grown familiar with the bird and worried about the safety of autonomous technology.

A Facebook post from a neighborhood group described how the self‑driving car, operated by a human safety driver, did not slow down or stop after striking the duck. The post also claimed the vehicle ignored a stop sign, although the company said no evidence supports that claim.

Avride, the maker of the vehicle, confirmed that the car was in autonomous mode when the accident occurred. It has not halted its public‑road testing, but it has removed certain streets around the lake from its operating zone.

The company’s spokesperson said that the vehicle data was reviewed and the incident was replayed in simulation multiple times. Avride is now looking at possible upgrades to prevent similar events, running controlled experiments in virtual environments to ensure changes do not compromise overall safety.

Austin hosts several autonomous‑vehicle programs, including Zoox, Tesla’s robotaxi service, and Waymo partnered with Uber. The duck incident highlights the challenges of integrating new technology into busy urban neighborhoods.