LA Man Says He Almost Missed His Flight After Waymo Drove Him in Circles
Jan 06, 2025 - gizmodo.com
A Los Angeles man, Mike Johns, experienced a frustrating incident with a Waymo driverless taxi that repeatedly circled instead of heading to his destination, an Arizona airport. Johns shared his ordeal on LinkedIn, noting the car ignored GPS and circled eight times, nearly causing him to miss his flight. Waymo, owned by Alphabet, stated the issue lasted about five minutes, and the rider wasn't charged. They have attempted to contact Johns but haven't connected. Johns expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of human empathy during the incident, highlighting concerns about the digital world and half-baked products.
This isn't the first time Waymo vehicles have encountered issues, with previous reports of cars getting stuck in loops and more severe incidents like hitting a cyclist and a telephone pole, prompting a recall. Despite these challenges, driverless technology is seen as the future due to potential cost advantages over services like Uber and Lyft. However, concerns remain about safety and the human element in customer service.
Key takeaways:
A Los Angeles man experienced a frustrating incident with a Waymo driverless taxi that traveled in circles, causing him to nearly miss his flight.
Waymo acknowledged the issue, stating it lasted about five minutes, and did not charge the rider for the trip.
There have been previous incidents of Waymo vehicles getting stuck in loops, as well as more serious accidents involving the cars.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges and public skepticism regarding the reliability and safety of autonomous vehicles.
