Crowd Sets Fire to Waymo Taxi in San Francisco Amidst Mistrust of Driverless Technology

A Waymo robo-taxi was set on fire Saturday by a crowd in San Francisco, raising concerns about the acceptance of driverless technology in the city. The motive behind the incident remains unclear, but it highlights the prevailing mistrust towards autonomous vehicles.

Unrest in San Francisco

The San Francisco Fire Department reported that a Waymo self-driving taxi was surrounded, vandalized with graffiti, had its windows broken, and was set on fire by a group of individuals. The vehicle was left charred and destroyed as a result.

During the Lunar New Year celebrations in San Francisco's Chinatown, onlooker Michael Vandi captured footage of the crowd gathering around the vehicle. In a video shared on X, one person can be heard shouting, "Light that shit on fire!" Local news outlets also shared videos of the aftermath, showing firefighters extinguishing the flames.

Fortunately, no one was inside the vehicle, and there were no reported injuries. The Los Angeles Times, citing the police, confirmed these details. The incident is currently under investigation.

Challenges with Driverless Technology

The motive behind the attack on the Waymo robo-taxi remains unknown. However, this incident reflects the increased scrutiny faced by autonomous vehicle companies as they continue to operate in San Francisco.

Waymo initiated trials of its driverless taxis in 2022, operating under certain restrictions in the city. However, the company encountered challenges along the way. In April, a Wired investigation revealed dashcam footage of Waymo vehicles causing congestion on the roads and obstructing public transportation vehicles.

In May, a Waymo taxi perplexed the authorities when it drove into the scene of a fire and nearly ran over a fire hose. Despite these incidents, driverless taxi companies were granted permission in August to expand their services in the city.

However, the introduction of expanded services led to chaos on the roads. Cruise, majority-owned by General Motors, had to reduce its fleet by half due to a series of accidents and traffic jams. By October, after a woman was pinned under one of its cars, the city revoked Cruise's permits.

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has consistently asserted that its autonomous vehicles are significantly safer than those driven by humans. The company points to a 2023 study conducted in collaboration with the insurance company Swiss Re, which supports this claim.

Despite the controversy surrounding driverless technology, Waymo remains committed to working closely with local safety officials to address the recent incident. As the city continues to navigate the integration of autonomous vehicles into its transportation system, public acceptance and trust will be crucial for the successful adoption of this innovative technology.

Source: Business Insider

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By: insider@insider.com (Mia Jankowicz)
Title: Crowd Sets Fire to Waymo Taxi in San Francisco Amidst Mistrust of Driverless Technology
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-waymo-driverless-car-torched-crowd-2024-2
Published Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:49:57 +0000