San Francisco residents express frustration with the latest antics of self-driving cars in their city. For years, autonomous vehicles have caused various issues, from blocking traffic to attracting protests with cones. Now, a Waymo staging lot in the SoMa neighborhood is adding to the frustration.
Locals report that the lot, filled with Waymo robo-taxis, has become a noisy nightmare. The autonomous cars have been honking at each other through the night, disturbing residents. Residents living near the lot say it’s distracting during the day, but more importantly, it wakes them up at 4 a.m.
The honking, which started in July, peaks early in the morning when there are fewer ride requests. The sight of driverless cars honking at each other has puzzled residents. Sophia Tung, a nearby resident, even set up a livestream of the lot, adding relaxing lo-fi hip-hop music to the bizarre scene.
Waymo addressed the honking issue, explaining it as a safety feature to prevent low-speed collisions. “It has worked well in the city, but we didn’t anticipate it happening so often in our parking lots,” a company spokesperson said. They have since updated the software to reduce noise.
The debate around self-driving cars in San Francisco continues. Last year, GM-backed Cruise halted its AV fleet after one vehicle hit and dragged a woman. Now, Cruise is applying for permits to operate again in San Francisco. The debate on safety and ethics is far from over.
