Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Seems to Navigate Into Opposing Traffic in Popular Clip


It may only be my opinion, but navigating against traffic on a road doesn’t appear to be a wise decision. I’m simply a regular person, not the technological marvel that a driverless vehicle represents.

A newly viral video showcases a driverless Waymo robotaxi driving into oncoming traffic in Austin, Texas. The post has garnered a plethora of upvotes on Reddit. In the footage, the robotaxi halts while facing the incorrect direction, meeting oncoming vehicles. Clearly bewildered, it activates its right turn signal before executing a left turn into a gas station. “Just another day in Austin,” the caption states.

Perfectly performed action, no remarks necessary.

The event transpired on a frontage road adjacent to I-35 in Austin, according to MySanAntonio. The local news source observed that neither the Austin Police Department nor the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department had received any reports about the incident.

“Safety is our utmost priority at Waymo, both for those who choose to ride with us and those with whom we share the streets,” a Waymo representative conveyed in an email to Mashable. “We take incidents like this seriously and are dedicated to enhancing road safety through our continual learning and experience.”

It’s been a tough month for Waymo in relation to safety issues. Earlier this month, it announced a software recall following reports of its robotaxis illegally overtaking school buses. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation discovered that Waymos had bypassed buses in at least 19 instances in Austin.