Waymo passenger jumps out of self-driving car after it stops on rail tracks near oncoming train
A construction zone and recent light rail addition likely caused the Waymo vehicle's error, with no delays reported and the scene cleared within 15 minutes, officials said.
- Video taken Wednesday shows a Waymo robotaxi stopping on active light rail tracks near Central and Southern avenues in south Phoenix, where the passenger fled before the car continued near an oncoming train.
- Experts say this looks like a long-tail edge case for autonomous mapping systems as nearby construction and the light rail extension added last year likely confused Waymo's mapped data.
- A Valley Metro employee notified operations control, light rail staff responded, and Waymo was contacted; trains exchanged passengers, reversed, and the scene was cleared within about 15 minutes.
- Waymo has not released details about what caused the robotaxi to enter the tracks, and Phoenix police said the vehicle had left before officers arrived, PEOPLE reported.
- Observers point to Waymo's rapid expansion and repeated odd incidents, noting the episode adds scrutiny after a Bay Area power outage last month and a broader roster of prior incidents.
15 Articles
15 Articles
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Passenger Forced to Flee Self-Driving Vehicle After It Stops in Path of an Oncoming Train
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