The Waymo representative explained to Johns that they were unable to manually control the car and required him to use the app to address the issue. The representative informed Johns that they were in the process of pulling over the vehicle, with two screens inside the car indicating that the ride was being temporarily paused while the car found a suitable spot to stop.
Robotaxis, like human-operated vehicles, are not immune to errors. A recent incident involving a Waymo taxi driving in circles highlights the potential for confusion and frustration experienced by both passengers and onlookers when autonomous technology encounters unexpected challenges.
This is not the first time that Waymo has faced issues with its self-driving vehicles. In June 2024, Waymo issued a recall affecting 672 cars in order to reduce the likelihood of collisions with poles, following an incident where a vehicle struck a pole in May. In a separate incident in 2021, Waymo’s robotaxi reportedly struggled with identifying puddles, causing abrupt braking that startled passengers who attributed the behavior to nearby birds. Waymo has been subject to multiple recalls, including a February 2024 incident involving two vehicles colliding with the same truck mere minutes apart. Both Waymo and the autonomous taxi company Zoox were subsequently investigated by federal authorities for erratic driving practices.
Johns, a consultant specializing in artificial intelligence, acknowledged that he was aware of previous incidents involving Waymo vehicles. Despite this knowledge, he did not anticipate encountering a similar situation until it happened to him. Johns cited his involvement in the technology industry as a factor in choosing Waymo over rideshare services like Lyft and Uber, emphasizing his belief in the future trajectory of autonomous transportation.
Following the circular driving incident, Waymo conducted a routine software update to address any potential issues. While Johns has not engaged with Waymo since the incident, he expressed openness to using the service again after further communication with the company. Waymo informed CNN via email that attempts were made to reach out to Johns, including leaving a voicemail for follow-up.
For the latest news and updates from CNN, be sure to create an account on CNN.com.
