Uber's Self-Driving Cars Ran Red Lights in San Francisco, Internal Documents Reveal
In late 2016, Uber's autonomous vehicles were recorded running red lights during a pilot program in San Francisco, endangering bicyclists. Uber publicly blamed human error and suspended a driver, but internal documents and employee statements indicated the cars were in autonomous mode at the time. The company declined to apply for a state testing permit, which would have required disengagement reports, and subsequently moved its self-driving operations to Arizona.
- Company involved
- Uber
9 source articles · 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 →
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 →
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 →
California Cracks Down on Robotaxis Blocking First Responders
California authorities are taking action against robotaxis that have been blocking first responders. The autonomous vehicles have reportedly obstructed emergency vehicles, prompting a regulatory crackdown.
7 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 →
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 →
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 →
Cruise robotaxi hits San Francisco fire truck, one injured
A Cruise self-driving car collided with a San Francisco Fire Department truck that was responding to an emergency. The incident occurred on August 17, 2023, in the Tenderloin district. One passenger sustained non-severe injuries and was taken to hospital. Cruise acknowledged the crash and offered support to the rider.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise self-driving car
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Toyota pauses self-driving bus service after hitting visually impaired athlete at Paralympics
Toyota suspended its e-Palette autonomous shuttle service at the Tokyo Paralympics after one of the vehicles struck Aramitsu Kitazono, a visually impaired judoka, while he was crossing a pedestrian crossing in the athletes' village. Kitazono suffered cuts and bruises and was unable to compete. Toyota's president apologized and admitted overconfidence in the technology, and the company is investigating the incident.
- Company involved
- Toyota
- AI system involved
- e-Palette
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 →
Cruise robotaxi appears to hinder emergency crews after San Francisco mass shooting
A Cruise autonomous vehicle appeared to block emergency crews responding to a mass shooting in San Francisco's Mission District on 9 June 2023. A police officer in video footage says the robotaxi was blocking emergency medical and fire vehicles. Cruise denied obstructing access and said an employee moved the vehicle within half an hour. San Francisco police said they were investigating.
- Company involved
- Cruise
10 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 →
Cruise Robotaxis Blamed for Delaying Ambulance in San Francisco Man's Death
In August 2023, a homeless man named Sammy Davis was fatally struck by a city bus in San Francisco. Emergency responders alleged that two Cruise robotaxis blocked their ambulance, delaying transport. City officials later clarified that Cruise was not at fault for the death, and the man had been hit by a bus. Cruise denied any responsibility, stating the delay was only 90 seconds.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise robotaxi
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 →
Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic
Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox robotaxis
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco
On 11 June 2018, a self-driving Cruise Chevrolet Bolt was rear-ended by another Cruise vehicle driven by a human employee on Bryant Street in San Francisco. The collision caused only minor scuffs and no injuries. Cruise reported the incident to the California DMV as required. The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with human drivers.
- Company involved
- Cruise
2 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-powered tram crashes into pedestrians in St Petersburg test run
An AI-powered 'Smart Tram' on a test run in St Petersburg, Russia, crashed into pedestrians after its AI system turned off and brakes failed. The driver, who was present, attempted to use emergency brakes but they did not fully work. Several people were injured, including a 45-year-old woman trapped under the tram. The city authorities have launched an investigation and a criminal case has been opened.
- Company involved
- St Petersburg city authorities
- AI system involved
- Smart Tram
1 source article · read the reporting →
