Lyft and Uber Drivers Rally Against Self-Driving Waymo Taxis in San Francisco
On Friday, drivers from Lyft and Uber held a protest in San Francisco against the self-driving Waymo taxis, urging state regulators to enhance oversight of autonomous vehicles. Their concerns stem from recent troubling incidents where self-driving cars have caused harm to animals and created traffic disruptions.
Outside the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) offices, where discussions on new regulations were underway, around twenty drivers and supporters gathered. They chanted slogans and displayed signs advocating for better street safety and accountability.
As the protests unfolded, Waymo vehicles continued to pass by, highlighting the increasing presence of these white cars in the city.
“I’m not opposed to technology itself,” stated Joseph August, who works for both Uber and Lyft. “It’s more about how unfairly we’re being treated. Other companies and their self-driving cars don’t seem to follow the same standards we do.” It’s a sentiment that many drivers might share in these discussions.
The CPUC is currently refining its policies regarding self-driving robotaxis to ensure they match the pace of technological advancements in the industry.
The California gig workers union argues that autonomous vehicles should be taken off the roads until all safety matters have been thoroughly addressed.
State officials have chosen not to comment on the ongoing protests.
A representative for Waymo, which is part of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, expressed that the company aims “to become the world’s most trusted driver, enhancing safety, accessibility, and sustainability for passengers.”
In a separate incident just before Christmas, a malfunctioning Waymo vehicle caused significant traffic issues in San Francisco, leading to service being suspended. This situation triggered doubts about the vehicle’s capacity to manage real-world driving challenges.
In another case in September, a Waymo did not face penalties after making an illegal U-turn—a move in violation of local traffic regulations—due to the absence of a human driver.
Moreover, in October, a Waymo was involved in an unfortunate incident where it hit a neighborhood cat named Kit Kat. Some observers are left wondering about the implications of such events.
Driver August recounted a chaotic scene on December 20 when numerous Waymo cars were seen stuck at intersections as pedestrians rushed to navigate through city streets during a power outage. “There were a lot of Waymos just scattered around with no clear plan,” he remarked.
