Waymo's self-driving cars ran into trouble on the road, temporarily blocking traffic on a San Francisco freeway exit ramp due to traffic cones, causing a traffic jam.
Waymo Robotaxis
Freeway Incident
Late on the evening of April 16, seven Waymo wireless taxis were returning to the depot when they encountered an obstruction of traffic cones at the Potrero Avenue exit. The first drone was unable to overcome the obstacle and left the lane, followed by the rest of the robotaxis. As a result, traffic in the area was completely paralyzed.
The footage released shows how drivers of other cars were forced to get out and remove the cones to clear the way for the confused Waymo robotaxis. The company sent a task force to clear the congestion, and the entire operation took about half an hour.
Self-Driving Authorization
A month ago, California regulators allowed Waymo to operate driverless robotaxis on San Francisco freeways. However, the company is still cautiously testing the technology with the presence of a human insurer in the cabin. Waymo is gradually moving to fully driverless mode, first in Arizona and then in California.
Problems with drones
This incident is not the first for Waymo drones, but it is the first time it has happened on the expressway and was captured on video. Rival Cruise has also faced problems with its robotaxis blocking emergency services and even hitting pedestrians.
Authorities complain about the lack of ability to fine driverless drones for traffic violations. At the same time, drones sometimes become victims of vandalism, such as the recent attack and arson of a Jaguar Waymo electric car in San Francisco.
Glossary
- Waymo is a company owned by Alphabet Inc. that develops self-driving and robotaxi technologies.
- Cruise is the self-driving car division of General Motors.
- San Francisco is a city in the state of California, USA.
- Jaguar is a British manufacturer of premium cars.
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Answers to questions
What are the main challenges facing self-driving cars on the road?
How do self-driving cars respond to road obstacles and incidents?
How are authorities and regulators responding to the challenges posed by self-driving cars?
How are self-driving car companies solving emerging problems?
What other problems arise with self-driving cars?
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Discussion of the topic – Waymo robotaxis again blocked traffic in San Francisco: a new curiosity of drones
Seven fully self-driving Waymo cars temporarily blocked a freeway exit in San Francisco, causing traffic jams and attracting media attention. This isn't the first incident of Waymo's self-driving cars fighting traffic cones.
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