Waymo robotaxi pulled over by Phoenix police after driving into the wrong lane
A Waymo robotaxi in Phoenix was pulled over by police after driving into an oncoming lane due to inconsistent construction signage.
A self-driving Waymo vehicle was pulled over by a police officer in Phoenix after it ran a red light and entered a lane of oncoming traffic. The incident occurred on June 19, but bodycam footage of the event was released this week by local media including Arizona Republic.
The footage captures the vehicle weaving through traffic before eventually pulling over into a parking lot, and shows the officer's perspective walking up to the empty car. Dispatch records revealed the vehicle 'FREAKED OUT' and noted that the officer could not issue a citation to the vehicle's computer.
A Waymo spokesperson informed TechCrunch that the vehicle encountered inconsistent construction signage leading it briefly into an unoccupied oncoming lane for about 30 seconds. Waymo has previously recalled its software twice this year following crashes, and its software safety is currently under investigation by federal regulators.