Waymo Robotaxis Honking in San Francisco at Night

Residents of San Francisco are expressing frustration over Waymo's autonomous robotaxis, which have been causing significant disturbances during the early morning hours. Complaints have surfaced about the vehicles' incessant honking, with one resident, Tung, reporting that the noise has disrupted sleep for up to an hour before dawn. In a recent post, Tung shared a livestream capturing the chaotic scene of robotaxis honking at each other in a parking lot, highlighting the aggressive behavior of the vehicles as they navigate the streets. Waymo's autonomous vehicles typically return to their parking lot between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and later on weekends. The company has acknowledged the issue and is reportedly working on a solution to mitigate the honking problem. Despite these efforts, residents have raised concerns about the broader impact of the robotaxis on traffic flow, citing instances of abrupt stops and slow driving that contribute to congestion. The introduction of Waymo's robotaxis in San Francisco began in August 2019, following years of development under the Google Self-Driving Car Project. However, the rollout has not been without controversy, as both Waymo and its competitor, Cruise, have faced scrutiny for their involvement in numerous accidents, including a recent incident where a Cruise vehicle critically injured a pedestrian. While Waymo continues to operate in the Phoenix area and test its services in San Francisco, the ongoing complaints from residents raise questions about the viability of autonomous vehicles in urban environments.