SF Standard – Delays, detours, and passed-out riders: Waymos keep blocking SF firefighters
SF Standard reports that Waymos interfering with emergency responders continues to be completely out of hand. The examples are shocking.
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
Robotaxi.news
Are robotaxis the future? Or instead, the past?
News
The news media has expended considerable effort researching and publishing information about the robotaxi business. This channel highlights some of the important articles.
Read MoreSF Standard – Delays, detours, and passed-out riders: Waymos keep blocking SF firefighters
SF Chronicle – Two Bay Area teens up to ‘trouble’ in a Waymo nabbed by police
SF Chronicle reports that a couple of wayward teens managed to ride in a Waymo unaccompanied, which is not legal in California. Drinking, shooting of projectiles, and general hilarity ensued.
SF Standard – Waymos stalled and snarled traffic after SF’s biggest fireworks show in years
SF Standard reports on how once again Waymo vehicles are incompetent at driving and cause complete traffic chaos.
The Independent – I used a self-driving car for 100 days. These are the mistakes it kept making
The Independent reports on how a Tesla using FSD was tested for 100 days and experienced more than 500 safety-critical events that requred driver intervention or revealed an important limitation.
TechCrunch – Waymo and Uber quietly part ways in Phoenix
TechCrunch reports that the marriage between Waymo and Uber was really just one of temporary convenience.
Business Insider – Trump’s DOT proposes new rules for driverless vehicles
Business Insider reports that the DOT will likely grant robotaxi companies the ability to use an unlimited number of vehicles that cannot be driven by a human. But there is a big problem. When the robotaxi goes haywire and blocks traffic then an emergency responder will not be able to drive the vehicle so that it is out of the way.
New York Times – Why Waymo’s Driverless Taxis Won’t Be on Your Streets Anytime Soon
New York Times reports on how Waymo robotaxis won't be on the streets of some major cities, including New York, within the foreseeable future. Turns out there are lots of issues.
Reuters – US senators ask for review of Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ safety data, citing Reuters report
Reuters reports that Tesla has once again exaggerated its safety claims creating “an urgent safety problem.” So why is FSD still allowed to be used on our public streets?
SF Chronicle – ‘Do better’: San Francisco is fed up with this Waymo behavior
SF Chronicle reports that Waymos aren't content to have seriously injured a bicyclist in San Francisco due to not following the traffic laws. Now they appear to park in bike lanes in a regular basis.
SF Standard – ‘It is insanity’: SF luxury condo owners fume over aggravating neighbors. (They’re Waymos)
SF Standard reports on yet more problems that Waymos are causing in San Francisco. Now they are clogging up residential parking garages as well.
StreetsBlog USA – Why, Robot: Driverless Taxis Spend As Much Time Without Passengers as Normal Taxis, Study Shows
StreetsBlog USA covers a report that confirms that Waymos spend half their time empty, as in "zero occupancy vehicles", as in the absolute worst from a congestion and energy point of view.
CNN – ‘Driving like teenagers’: Waymo robotaxis have run red lights and nearly hit pedestrians, CNN finds
CNN investigated the safety of Waymo robotaxis and found that while in some ways they drive more safely than humans, in other ways they introduce whole new safety problems.
SF Chronicle – Get-a-Waymo: How a burglar used a robotaxi to flee the scene in a first-of-its kind S.F. case
SF Chronicle reports that there is a new use case for robotaxis: burglary! No driver to identify the perpetrator. Truly brilliant!
NY Times – Blind Waymo Users Revel in the Joy of Riding Alone
NY Times writes an unfortunate article that perpetuates the Waymo marketing "crip-washing" that robotaxis are important for people who are visually impaired.
NY Times – Waymo Suspends Service in Six Cities After Cars Drove Into Flooded Roads
NY Times reports on how Waymo robotaxis do really dumb things when encountering flooded streets. They drive in and any passengers are then stuck!
