Self-driving cars may be the future, but right now they’re still a work in progress.
Just look at San Francisco, where two companies, Waymo and Cruise, have been operating a limited number of robotaxis in designated areas. Since last fall, city officials have documented frightening incidents, such as when a driverless vehicle rolled into an active fire scene and parked with one tire on a fire hose. Another time, a vehicle drove through yellow emergency tape and past warning signs into a street with storm-damaged electrical wires.
Robotaxis have stopped on light-rail lines, blocked fire station driveways and halted traffic. With no driver present, authorities have to contact the companies to get the vehicles moved. Some 93 traffic incidents were reported in March — and those are just what was documented. Companies aren’t required to report when the vehicles stop in the middle of the road, block traffic or drive in bus-only lanes.
