Driverless Waymo Taxi Caught Breaking Traffic Laws

Authorities reported that police encounters with drunk drivers led to the discovery of a Waymo taxi operating without a driver, which made an illegal U-turn.

This incident unfolded Friday evening during a DUI enforcement operation funded by a grant from the San Bruno Police Station. The police shared the details via social media.

The officers promptly pulled over the autonomous vehicle.

“Yes… there’s no driver, no clue,” the department stated in their post.

Following the incident, the police reached out to Waymo, known for its all-electric robot taxis, to inform them of the situation. “We couldn’t issue any tickets since there was no human driver; our citation system doesn’t accommodate ‘robots,’” they noted in the post.

They expressed hope that reprogramming would help prevent any future violations.

Currently, a law is being considered that would allow officers to notify companies when their vehicles are acting recklessly.

“Whether it’s a driver, a passenger, or an automated vehicle, we are committed to keeping the city of San Bruno safe,” the police department emphasized.

Waymo operates in several cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, and plans to introduce self-driving cars in Miami later this year, followed by Washington, DC, in 2026.

In response to this incident, Waymo commented, “Waymo Driver, our autonomous driving system, is designed to follow road rules. We are reviewing this situation and working to enhance road safety through ongoing learning and experience.”

Earlier this year, unmanned Waymo robot taxis also began testing in New York City, although human drivers are still present in these vehicles during the trials.

Some critics, including former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, have expressed concerns about this technology, labeling it a potential disaster waiting to unfold.