Growing Concerns Over the Safety of Waymo’s Robotaxi Operations in Los Angeles

This week, as Waymo’s robotaxis provided complimentary rides to passengers in Santa Monica and Venice, apprehension escalated among Los Angeles law enforcement regarding the safety and security of driverless vehicles navigating the city’s streets. The emergence of driverless technology has sparked intense debates about its implications for public safety and urban mobility.

In response to these growing concerns, Mayor Bass formally requested on Wednesday that state regulators intensify their evaluation of automated taxi operations. She emphasized that the city should have a significant role in shaping the regulations governing these vehicles to ensure public safety and operational transparency.

This proactive stance comes in the wake of a troubling incident involving a Cruise robotaxi that dragged a pedestrian down a San Francisco street last month. The company reportedly failed to disclose critical footage of the event to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), leading to the suspension of the General Motors-owned company’s operational permits. As a consequence, Cruise has announced a temporary halt to its operations across the U.S.

Such incidents, particularly in San Francisco where both Waymo and Cruise have been conducting operations, have raised serious concerns for Los Angeles officials. They have witnessed an increasing presence of robotaxis being tested on their streets, prompting a reassessment of the safety protocols surrounding autonomous vehicles.

In her communication to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which is responsible for overseeing taxi permits, Mayor Bass pointed out that local jurisdictions like Los Angeles have had minimal input regarding the deployment of autonomous vehicles and are already experiencing significant disruptions and potential hazards as a result.

Currently, no companies are authorized to charge passengers for rides in driverless taxis within Los Angeles. However, Waymo is permitted to operate fully autonomous vehicles and transport the public as part of its ongoing testing and promotional initiatives.

City officials anticipate that robotaxi companies will soon seek permits to operate commercially in Los Angeles. They are particularly wary of the experiences in San Francisco, where autonomous vehicles have caused traffic disruptions and interfered with emergency responders, highlighting the need for cautious regulatory approaches.

Mayor Bass highlighted multiple safety incidents in San Francisco, where robotaxis obstructed firehouse driveways, caused traffic congestion, and disrupted active fire scenes. She also noted an alarming event in Los Angeles where a driverless vehicle failed to recognize signals from a city traffic officer, raising serious concerns about the operational capabilities of these autonomous systems.

This incident occurred on August 3, when a Waymo driverless vehicle initially did not stop for a traffic officer directing east- and westbound traffic at Beaudry Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. After a moment, the vehicle came to a stop but then slowly tried to maneuver around the officer, who had to step in front of the vehicle to prevent it from proceeding.

In her letter, Bass emphasized, “Accurately detecting and responding to traffic officers and other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, is a fundamental requirement for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles.” She expressed that premature deployment without demonstrable safety capabilities poses a serious risk to public safety and urged for more comprehensive testing to ensure that operators can safely expand their services.

The letter, along with rising concerns from certain members of the Los Angeles City Council, may indicate the beginning of a more extended conflict as technology companies push for rapid expansion in the autonomous vehicle sector.

In San Francisco, city officials have called on the CPUC to reconsider its decision to allow Waymo and Cruise to operate fare services around the clock, reflecting broader apprehensions about the implications of such operations.

This week, a committee within the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion to request the city attorney collaborate with San Francisco in its efforts to regulate the robotaxi sector more effectively. The same committee is also aiming to enhance its understanding of local regulatory authority over these emerging technologies.

Given Los Angeles’s extensive network of roads and millions of potential passengers, it has long been viewed as a lucrative market for robotaxis. Although the CPUC has yet to approve the operation of driverless taxis in the city, testing continues, raising important questions about the future of urban transportation.

“We need comprehensive regulations governing robot taxis, and we should not compromise public safety by allowing our city to become a testing ground for the tech industry,” stated Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, who initiated the motion to support San Francisco’s regulatory efforts, emphasizing the need for stringent oversight in the rollout of autonomous transportation solutions.

Waymo, which has been testing its fleet of driverless white Jaguars in Los Angeles for over a year, launched a promotional “tour” in October, offering free rides to passengers in areas including Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, Mid-City, Koreatown, and downtown. This initiative aims to familiarize the public with the technology while addressing safety concerns.

During this period, the company claims to have collaborated with first responders to improve interactions with the vehicles, asserting that it has not encountered any accidents or significant safety issues related to its fleet. However, the company remains tight-lipped about the number of operational vehicles and other logistical details, which has sparked frustration among city officials and echoes previous conflicts between municipal authorities and ride-hailing services in Los Angeles.

“We are disappointed in the mayor’s decision to oppose the deployment of autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles,” said Waymo spokesman Chris Bonelli in an email. “Our safety record and driving performance in L.A. are strong, and we don’t believe the letter represents an accurate depiction of Waymo and our operational experience.”