A Waymo robotaxi was seen last week driving the wrong way down a street in downtown San Francisco for nearly two blocks, an attempt to pass a throng of scooter riders and cyclists, the company has since said in a statement.
The driverless vehicle made the maneuver April 19 while driving on Mission Street near First Street crossing a double yellow line at about 9:30 p.m. to pass a group of about two dozen people riding electric scooters, one-wheels, and unicycles, according to a Waymo spokesperson.
The car drove in the opposing lane after it appeared there was a risk someone in the crowd ahead had fallen, so it attempted to pass, the spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
“[The car] decided to carefully initiate a passing maneuver when the opposing lane was clear to move around what could be an obstacle and a safety concern,” the statement read.
The vehicle continued driving in the opposite traffic lane “out of an abundance of caution” of people in the road to not cut them off or get too close, before eventually returning to its original lane, the spokesperson said.
Before approaching the stoplight at Mission and Second streets, the car was cut off by a unicyclist who may have been guiding it back to the proper lane.
Waymo said in the statement the recent incident was a learning experience and they “look forward to learning from this unique event.”
In February, the company announced a recall of its software for its robotaxis after two of its vehicles crashed in December into the same truck minutes apart in Arizona, according to media reports.
Currently the industry is regulated by the state, but recent legislation could change that under Senate Bill 915, proposed in January, which would give local governments the authority to permit self-driving cars in their communities. The bill passed the Senate Local Government Committee April 17 and is waiting to be heard by the Committee on Transportation.
