Waymo rider trapped in robotaxi during vandalism attack in San Francisco
In May 2026, Sherman Watson was riding in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco when two men attacked the vehicle, smashing the windshield. The car stopped and remained stationary, trapping Watson inside for about 10 minutes while he feared for his life. Waymo's remote assistant called police but could not move the car. Watson later sought therapy and requested video footage from Waymo, which the company has not provided, citing the need for a police search warrant.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo vehicle catches fire after driving over firework in San Francisco
On 4 July 2026, an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi caught fire in San Francisco after driving over a lit firework. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred amid widespread traffic congestion, with multiple Waymo vehicles becoming disabled and blocking roads. Waymo coordinated with the fire department to remove the vehicle and said it was evaluating ways to improve resilience during major disruptions.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo passenger flees robotaxi stuck on Phoenix light rail tracks
A Waymo self-driving car mistakenly drove onto light rail tracks in Phoenix, forcing a passenger to flee the vehicle. The incident occurred near moving trains before the car continued along the tracks. Valley Metro confirmed it was notified and responded, and Waymo was contacted.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo self-driving taxi blocks road after confusion with traffic cones
A Waymo self-driving taxi in Phoenix, Arizona, became confused by traffic cones closing a lane and stopped, blocking the road. The vehicle repeatedly drove away from roadside assistance dispatched to help, before a human driver took over. Waymo acknowledged the incident, stating that its remote guidance team provided incorrect instructions and that it has since improved its operational process. The passenger, who documented the event, said such mistakes are rare.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Shenzhen traffic police to use AI surveillance to punish jaywalkers via text messages
The Shenzhen Traffic Police in China are implementing an AI-powered surveillance system to detect jaywalkers and automatically send them text message fines or warnings. The system uses cameras and facial recognition to identify individuals crossing roads illegally. The police claim this will improve enforcement efficiency, but critics raise concerns about privacy and the potential for errors in identification.
- Company involved
- Shenzhen Traffic Police
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Kiwibot delivery robot battery fire in Berkeley
On 14 December 2018, a Kiwibot delivery robot idling in Berkeley, California, began smouldering when its battery experienced thermal runaway. A bystander extinguished the flames, and the Berkeley Fire Department secured the scene. Kiwibot suspended its service temporarily, investigated, and attributed the incident to human error in battery replacement. The company introduced new battery management software to prevent recurrence.
- Company involved
- Kiwibot
- AI system involved
- Kiwibot
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Man gets stuck in trunk of Waymo robotaxi in Los Angeles
A man jumped into the open trunk of a Waymo robotaxi in Los Angeles and became trapped. The next passenger discovered him upon the vehicle's arrival, and police removed the man. Waymo acknowledged the incident was unacceptable and said it is implementing changes to prevent similar occurrences. The event was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Hellobike self-driving car injures two pedestrians in Zhuzhou
In June 2025, a Hellobike autonomous taxi in Zhuzhou, Hunan, veered off course and struck two pedestrians crossing the road, causing serious injuries. The company suspended its autonomous driving operations in Zhuzhou and Liyang following the crash. Reports suggest the vehicle may have lacked sufficient underside sensors, leading to detection failures. The incident is believed to be the first publicly known injury-causing crash involving a robotaxi in China.
- Company involved
- 哈啰
- AI system involved
- 哈啰自动驾驶 Robotaxi
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Speedcam Anywhere developers face abuse from UK drivers after app launch
Speedcam Anywhere, an app that uses AI to estimate the speed of passing vehicles, was launched in March 2022. Its developers have received abusive emails from drivers and are now hiding their identities. Google and Apple have not approved the app for distribution, and the Home Office has not vetted it for speeding prosecutions.
- AI system involved
- Speedcam Anywhere
10 source articles · read the reporting →
San Francisco residents lose sleep over Waymo cars honking at night
Residents of San Francisco's South of Market neighbourhood report being repeatedly woken up by driverless Waymo vehicles honking at each other in a nearby parking lot, particularly around 4 a.m. The cars appear to honk while manoeuvring into spaces in between rides. Waymo says it has identified the cause and is working on a fix.
- Company involved
- Waymo
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise driverless cars block traffic in San Francisco
On 22 May 2022, three driverless Cruise vehicles stopped in the middle of Masonic Avenue in San Francisco, blocking two lanes of traffic. The cars reportedly became confused and halted, causing disruption. The incident was shared on social media by a witness.
- Company involved
- Cruise
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise autonomous vehicle briefly evades police traffic stop
On April 2, 2022, a driverless Cruise taxi in San Francisco was pulled over by police for driving without headlights. The vehicle initially drove away before stopping at a safe location, confusing officers. Cruise stated the car yielded as programmed and no citation was issued. The incident highlights challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with law enforcement.
- Company involved
- Cruise
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Hackers trick Tesla Autopilot into veering into oncoming lane
Researchers at Tencent's Keen Security Lab demonstrated that stickers placed on a road could trick a Tesla Model S's Autopilot system into veering into the oncoming traffic lane. The attack exploited the system's reliance on camera-based computer vision to recognise lanes. Tesla responded that this vulnerability was unrealistic because a driver can easily override Autopilot, while saying a separate steering-wheel hijack had been fixed in a software update.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Researchers demonstrate drone attack on Renault Captur ADAS with fake road signs
Security researchers from Ben Gurion University demonstrated a vulnerability in the Mobileye ADAS system used in a Renault Captur. They used drones to project fake road signs for 100 milliseconds, too quick for human perception but detectable by the system. The attack could trick the car into making unsafe maneuvers, though the system is only Level 0 (advisory). The researchers published their findings in a paper titled 'MobilBye: Attacking ADAS with Camera Spoofing'.
- AI system involved
- Mobileye ADAS
7 source articles · read the reporting →
AnyVision patents drone facial recognition technology
AnyVision, an Israeli private surveillance company, filed a US patent for drone technology that uses facial recognition to identify people on the ground. The patent describes adaptive positioning of drones to find optimal angles for accurate facial recognition. The technology is not yet in production, but the company's CEO stated it will become a reality soon. Potential privacy concerns have been raised.
- Company involved
- AnyVision
- AI system involved
- Adaptive positioning of drones for enhanced facial recognition
9 source articles · read the reporting →
California threatens legal action against Uber over self-driving cars without permit
Uber launched a pilot program of self-driving taxis in San Francisco without obtaining a required permit from the California DMV. Two of the vehicles were observed running red lights on the first day. The California attorney general threatened legal action unless Uber removes the cars from the road. Uber argued that its cars are not fully autonomous and therefore not subject to the permit requirement.
- Company involved
- Uber
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo vehicles repeatedly turn around on San Francisco dead-end street
Residents of a dead-end street in San Francisco's Richmond District say Waymo self-driving cars have been driving down their street and making U-turns every five minutes for six to eight weeks. The constant hum of the vehicles has become a nuisance for neighbours working from home. Waymo said the cars were obeying road rules, taking a U-turn due to Slow Streets signage on Lake, and that it continually adjusts to dynamic San Francisco road rules.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise alleged to rely on human operators for autonomous driving
A New York Times article alleged that Cruise's autonomous vehicles rely on human operators to achieve autonomous driving, with 1.5 workers per vehicle intervening every 2.5 to five miles. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt responded on Hacker News, stating that remote assistance is used 2-4% of the time and that many sessions are resolved by the vehicle itself. The company declined an interview request from the NYT.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise AV
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo driverless car hits bicyclist in San Francisco intersection
On 6 February 2024, a Waymo driverless car collided with a bicyclist at a four-way intersection in San Francisco. The cyclist was obscured by a truck and the vehicle braked but could not stop in time. The cyclist sustained minor scratches and left the scene. Waymo stated it is contacting relevant authorities.
- Company involved
- Waymo
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Driver relying on "smart driving" on highway crashes after system suddenly disengages near truck
司机依赖“智驾 ”跑高速，逼近大货车时“智驾”突然退出引发车祸 - 手机新浪网
A driver was using a smart driving system on an expressway. As the vehicle approached a large truck, the system unexpectedly disengaged, leading to a crash.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Starship delivery robots blocked wheelchair users at University of Pittsburgh
In October 2019, Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robots blocked wheelchair users on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Doctoral student Emily Ackerman reported that a robot blocked the only accessible sidewalk entrance, trapping her near traffic. Another wheelchair user, Alisa Grishman, had a similar incident earlier that month. The university and Starship paused the robot program for review.
- Company involved
- Starship Technologies
- AI system involved
- Starship delivery robot
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo self-driving car hits child near Santa Monica school, US opens probe
A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child crossing the street near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on 23 January 2026, during school drop-off hours. The child sustained minor injuries. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the incident. Waymo stated that the child emerged suddenly from behind a double-parked SUV and that the vehicle braked, reducing speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact, and that a computer model suggested a human driver would have also hit the child.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo robotaxi investigated for failing to stop for school bus in Atlanta
An autonomous Waymo vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia, passed a stopped school bus with its stop arm and flashing red lights deployed, driving near students who were getting off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating how Waymo's automated driving system performs around stopped school buses. No injuries were reported. Waymo said the bus had partially blocked the vehicle's exit, obscuring the bus's signals, and that it has since updated its software.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo automated driving system
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Hello robotaxi crash injures pedestrians in Zhuzhou, China
A Hello Inc. robotaxi struck and injured two pedestrians in Zhuzhou, China, on or around December 5, 2025. Footage showed bystanders and police lifting the vehicle to free a person trapped underneath. Hello has suspended autonomous-driving operations in Zhuzhou. Local police have not yet determined fault, and Hello has not commented. The crash follows a prior incident where a Hello robotaxi allegedly failed to stop after a collision.
- Company involved
- Hello Inc.
- AI system involved
- Hello Autonomous Driving
3 source articles · read the reporting →
