Public Vandalism and Fire Attack on Waymo Self-Driving Car in San Francisco
Attack on Waymo Self-Driving Car
A crowd in San Francisco vandalized and set fire to a Waymo self-driving car on Saturday, marking the latest public attack on such vehicles in the U.S. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. PST in the city’s Chinatown district, when a group surrounded the vehicle, drawing graffiti, smashing windows, and ultimately setting it on fire using a firework.
Response from Waymo and Authorities
Waymo, an Alphabet-owned company, confirmed that the vehicle was not transporting any riders at the time of the attack, and no injuries were reported. The company is working closely with local safety officials to address the situation. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Police Department is investigating the cause of the fire.
Previous Attacks on Self-Driving Cars
This incident is not the first of its kind, as people have previously disrupted the operations of self-driving vehicles in cities such as San Francisco and Phoenix, Arizona. The severity of this attack possibly reflects growing public hostility towards such vehicles, especially following a pedestrian-dragging accident involving a vehicle operated by General Motors’ Cruise unit last year.
Driverless Ride-Hailing Service
Waymo offers a driverless ride-hailing service in Phoenix and has plans to expand to Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. However, recent incidents, including a Waymo car colliding with a cyclist in San Francisco, are being reviewed by the state’s auto regulator.
Regulatory Response and Holiday Timing
Incidentally, this latest incident occurred during the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays and a day before the Super Bowl NFL championship game, involving the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Earlier, California suspended General Motors’ Cruise unit’s driverless testing license following the pedestrian accident, leading to the removal of all U.S. self-driving vehicles from testing.
