Self-Driving Taxis in Transition: Malfunctions and Passenger Safety Concerns
Recent Glitch Leaves Passengers Trapped Due to Vehicle Malfunction
Technological advancements can significantly improve daily life, but challenges and setbacks often mark the journey to perfection. Safety features in cars, such as seat belts and lane departure warnings, are prime examples of technologies that have been perfected through years of trial and error. Today, self-driving technology—widely regarded as a core technology of the future—is still navigating this developmental phase.
In some areas, self-driving taxis have moved beyond pilot programs to provide official services. However, these services are still far from flawless. Recently, a malfunction in a self-driving cab prevented passengers from exiting the vehicle, sparking new concerns about the reliability and safety of autonomous vehicles.
Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Incident: Passenger Trapped in Malfunctioning Vehicle
According to a report by The Guardian on January 7, an incident involving a Waymo self-driving taxi raised alarm over the technology’s limitations. Waymo, a self-driving taxi service under Google’s parent company, Alphabet, began its official operations in Los Angeles in March 2024.
Tech entrepreneur Mike Johns, a passenger in the vehicle, described in a LinkedIn post how a malfunction nearly caused him to miss his flight. He explained that once he was seated and had his seatbelt on, the car began to malfunction, circling the parking lot eight times before there was any change. Johns noted that the taxi’s erratic behavior caused considerable distress and led him to suspect that the vehicle might have been tampered with.
Not the First Incident: Previous Glitches and Concerns
After about five minutes of erratic behavior by the self-driving taxi, Waymo regained control of the vehicle and safely dropped Johns off at his destination without charging him. Johns expressed his concerns, noting that he thought someone might have played a prank on him or that the car had been hacked. Disappointed with the experience, he concluded that Waymo was the worst and stated that he would be using regular taxi services like Lyft or Uber from now on.
Meanwhile, Waymo taxis have had similar glitches before. Last month, they got stuck in a roundabout in Arizona and spun around at least 37 times. Fortunately, no passengers were on board. In February 2024, they struck a cyclist, and in May of that year, they crashed into a phone booth.
Industry Optimism Amid Safety Concerns
Nevertheless, the industry is optimistic that self-driving taxis will gradually become part of our daily lives. The fact that there are no drivers means that labor costs can be saved, which is a significant advantage, and it is analyzed that this will also lead to a reduction in the burden of fares for passengers. It is expected that these errors will be naturally resolved over time.
