When two social‑media athletes arranged themselves in a makeshift football formation on a quiet Austin street, they wanted to see how Waymo’s self‑driving taxis would react.
A Test That Exposes Hidden Risks
A CNN review of thousands of autonomous rides, however, uncovered a starkly different pattern: hundreds of instances where Waymo vehicles ran red lights, veered into oncoming traffic, or stopped perilously close to pedestrians.
Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, warned that such lapses could culminate in fatal outcomes if left unchecked.
Paige Ellis, a transportation analyst, added that the frequency of these incidents suggests systemic issues that merit immediate attention.
Waymo has defended its safety record, pointing to a decline in collision rates over the past year, and says it is actively incorporating community feedback to refine its algorithms.
The company also highlighted its partnership with local universities, including the University of South Carolina, to test new sensor suites and improve public trust.