Waymo's Driverless Car Takes an Unplanned Tour Through a Police Scene

A Waymo driverless car found itself in the middle of a police standoff in Los Angeles. This wasn't part of the plan.

The Incident

The car, owned by Alphabet's Waymo, rolled up to a scene where police were arresting a suspect. A video of the event quickly went viral, showing the car driving close to the suspect and ignoring police instructions to turn left. The car eventually left the scene, and officers made the arrest.

Waymo's Response

Waymo says safety is their top priority. They mentioned that the car was only in the scene for about 15 seconds. The police said the car didn't disrupt their work.

Previous Incidents

But this isn't the first time a Waymo car has been in the spotlight for strange behavior. Earlier in December, Waymo recalled some of its software after reports of cars passing stopped school buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into these incidents.

Challenges with Driverless Cars

Driverless cars are becoming more common, but they still have issues. They rely on cameras and sensors to understand the world. This can cause problems, like not recognizing a school bus at night. The police standoff might have confused the car's sensors, leading to its unusual behavior.

The Future of Driverless Cars

Waymo and other companies have been working on driverless cars for over a decade. While they promise safer roads, they still have a long way to go. The recent incidents show that these cars need more improvements before they can truly replace human drivers.