"Are You Going to Stay Like This Forever?"... 'T-Formation' Self-Driving Taxis Remain Unresponsive Even When Called

Three Waymo self-driving taxis were caught facing off in a 'T' formation in San Francisco, USA. On December 12, Yonhap News TV, citing the San Francisco Chronicle and other sources, reported that on December 6, three Waymo vehicles became entangled in a T-shaped standoff on a hilly street in San Francisco. The three taxis blocked the road, leaving local residents unable to move their cars. In a video posted on social media, a man says, "I just came out of my garage and this happened," adding, "I'm trying to get out of here." Another resident can be heard shouting, "Are you going to stay there forever?"

Three Waymo self-driving taxis were caught facing off in a 'T' formation in San Francisco, USA. Photo by ABC News

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The video was uploaded to the online video platform TikTok, where it garnered nearly 4 million views. The exact reason why the vehicles ended up in a T-shaped standoff remains unclear. However, a Waymo representative explained that a minor collision occurred while two vehicles repeatedly attempted U-turns at a dead-end street. It was reported that there were no passengers in either vehicle at the time. The standoff between the self-driving taxis was finally resolved when a Waymo employee arrived on the scene and one vehicle reversed.

Waymo is the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, and currently provides services in several parts of the United States, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. However, as autonomous driving technology spreads, companies like Waymo and Uber are facing increasing safety concerns and controversy. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation after a Waymo vehicle illegally overtook a school bus. Additionally, there have been recent sightings of two Waymo vehicles simultaneously changing lanes in a zigzag pattern in a two-lane tunnel, as well as instances of running red lights or failing to stop at stop lines.

Three Waymo self-driving taxis were caught facing off in a 'T' formation in San Francisco, USA. Photo by ABC News

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At the end of October, a beloved neighborhood cat named KitKat was fatally struck by a Waymo vehicle in San Francisco, and at the end of last month, another incident occurred in which a Waymo taxi collided with a small dog in the same city, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. These incidents highlight that safety and regulatory compliance remain major challenges in the commercialization of robotaxis. Industry experts emphasize that while robotaxi and autonomous vehicle technologies are advancing rapidly, achieving widespread adoption and commercialization will require not only technological maturity but also robust safety management, regulatory compliance, and efforts to gain social acceptance.

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