In a recent incident in downtown Los Angeles, a man attempted to commandeer an autonomous Waymo vehicle, raising concerns about safety protocols for self-driving cars. On Thursday, the individual allegedly climbed into a parked Waymo Jaguar I-PACE and tried to drive away. The incident provoked a swift response from the Los Angeles Police Department, who ultimately removed the man from the vehicle.

This occurrence occurs shortly after Waymo expanded its autonomous ride-sharing services to all residents of Los Angeles, deploying over 100 self-driving vehicles across the city, specifically from Santa Monica to downtown L.A., although notably excluding Los Angeles International Airport. Waymo operates a significantly larger fleet in other locations, including San Francisco, Daly City, and Phoenix.

According to Waymo, in excess of 5 million rides have been taken in their autonomous vehicles, with only a small number of individuals attempting to take control of them. The company maintains that even when such incidents happen, their technology is developed to prevent passengers from overriding the automatic driving system. The vehicles are equipped with several safety features designed for self-protection, including evasive manoeuvring, audible alerts, and the capacity to communicate that 911 is being alerted.

Furthermore, to prevent unauthorized access during rides, the exterior door handles of the vehicles are designed to fold in, making it impossible for outsiders to enter. The Waymo rider support team is alerted instantly in situations where a passenger might get behind the wheel. In this specific case, the support team instructed the man to exit the vehicle, but he declined to comply. Following this refusal, Waymo escalated the matter, contacting the LAPD for assistance.

The man involved in the incident was later released at the scene by the police. This episode has sparked discussions regarding the safety measures in place for autonomous vehicles, particularly as these technologies become increasingly integrated into urban transportation systems.

Source: Noah Wire Services