Over the weekend, a self-driving taxi operated by Google’s Waymo was attacked and destroyed by a mob in San Francisco. An enraged mob used fireworks to set vehicles on fire, sparking violent clashes between lawless California and unmanned vehicles.
tech spot report Around 9pm on Saturday night, Waymo’s self-driving Jaguar I-Pace was driving through San Francisco’s Chinatown when it was surrounded by a crowd and attacked. According to eyewitness reports, the incident began during a minor traffic stop when someone jumped on the hood of a stopped robotaxi and smashed its windshield.
Others joined in, using skateboards and other objects to vandalize the vehicle and break the windows. Fireworks were then thrown into the car, the empty taxi was set ablaze, and the car was covered in graffiti.
Video footage of the incident shows the self-driving Waymo fully engulfed in flames. Although the motives behind the rioters’ actions remain unclear, tensions between San Francisco residents and robotaxis have been growing over time. In the past, driverless Cruise and Waymo cars have obstructed traffic, caused collisions, and even run over dogs in the city.
What’s happening in SF right now. Waymo car vandalized and set on fire @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/OEZYFiy6mv
— Michael Vandi (@michael_vandi) February 11, 2024
Residents began protesting against the 24/7 operation and pricing of self-driving taxis. Last October, the company’s self-driving vehicle license was suspended in California after a pedestrian fatality involving a Cruise robotaxi occurred. The weekend attack, the most violent yet, reflects growing resentment among San Francisco residents over the robotaxis operating in the city.
Some of the ill will toward Waymo in particular may have been sparked by incidents involving the company’s vehicles since GM’s Cruise pulled its robotaxis from San Francisco. As Breitbart News recently reported, a Waymo self-driving car was involved in an accident that struck a bicycle.
The Verge report On Tuesday afternoon, February 6, it was announced that a self-driving car developed by Google’s Waymo collided with and injured a bicyclist in San Francisco. The incident occurred at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Mississippi Street in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. According to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), a self-driving car collided with a bicyclist, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries.
Waymo vehicles came to a four-way stop when the large truck began to enter the intersection, Waymo spokeswoman Julia Irina said in a statement. The Waymo vehicle entered the intersection after waiting its turn, but could not see the cyclist who was riding behind the truck.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship issues.
