Google’s driverless taxis, called Waymos, are now operating in dozens of cities in the United States. Waymos are also undergoing supervised tests in London, with the goal of a public launch in September.
From the consumer perspective, a Waymo is basically an Uber, only without a driver. They seem to be less likely to be involved in a severe accident than humans (although some research suggests they get into prangs more often).
Yet the rapid roll-out is now facing one of its most serious tests. A San Francisco cyclist is suing Alphabet Inc., Waymo’s parent company, after a harrowing incident in a bike lane in the city.
According to the lawsuit, the cyclist was struck by a Waymo’s passenger door as it opened into a bike lane, after stopping in a no-stopping zone. She was then launched into another Waymo, which was pulling partially into the same bike lane to drop off its passengers.
The plaintiff alleges that Waymo has “known for a significant amount of time that cyclists are at significant risk of serious injury and/or death from ‘dooring’ incidents, and that its vehicles were regularly causing such events.”
Social media reports suggest Waymos regularly stop in bike lanes to pick up and drop off passengers in San Francisco and Austin.
Driverless cars are an appealing innovation for many. They are futuristic and have the potential to be convenient, environmentally friendly, and safer for young women than taxis and Ubers.
Yet the roll-out is demonstrating that it isn’t all roses. For instance, when Waymos have mechanical failures or drive themselves into a tight spot they can’t get out of, they need human assistance to stop them blocking traffic. In San Francisco, the average call-out time for a Waymo technician to arrive on scene and fix the problem is 20 minutes.
This week, Waymo paused services in Atlanta after a Waymo drove into floodwater. They were also reported illegally passing school buses in the city.
Waymo employs “remote assistance agents” who interact with drivers or law enforcement through the car’s speakers in case of incidents. Half of these agents are based in the US and half in the Philippines.
Hopefully, the San Francisco lawsuit will prompt Waymo to stop cutting corners and make the technology what it deserves to be.