Accidental Car Chase with Waymo in San Francisco

A recent incident in San Francisco highlights some concerns about autonomous vehicle technology. A passenger found himself in an unintended car chase as his Waymo robotaxi took a wrong turn and drew the attention of a police officer.

Elliott Slade and his fiancée were traveling in the self-driving vehicle along Highway 101 when they encountered a construction zone, according to reports. The taxi, which is part of Alphabet’s autonomous division, attempted to switch lanes but instead veered into a restricted area despite visible signs and barriers.

“The car went through the cones and rapidly accelerated,” Slade shared. This unexpected maneuver caught the eye of a police car, which proceeded to follow the Waymo to understand the situation better.

During the ride, Slade found himself shouting, “Stop Waymo!” continually questioning what was happening. The chaotic moment finally came to an end when the taxi exited the freeway and entered a nearby housing area.

Relieved that an accident didn’t occur, Slade remarked, “At that point, I felt like, ‘Oh, this technology isn’t ready yet.’” He took an Uber home that evening, reflecting on the potentially dangerous situation: “If things had gone sideways, someone could have been seriously hurt.”

While Slade has used Waymo again since then, he expressed a reluctance to do so in the future: “It felt a bit strange trying again. A little PTSD, you know?”

This particular incident is part of a broader pattern, as there have been more than a dozen similar occurrences where self-driving taxis have failed to heed construction warnings. In response, major companies have recalled over 3,800 robotaxis, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To improve safety, car manufacturers have directed their technicians to enhance situational awareness and avoid construction zones and highway driving. Waymo acknowledged these issues, stating, “We’ve identified areas for improvement regarding how we operate around highway construction zones.” They further mentioned a decision to limit highway operations while they work on these enhancements and notify relevant regulators.