A Waymo passenger in Phoenix, Arizona, jumped out of a self-driving vehicle after it reportedly drove onto light rail tracks near an oncoming train this week.
According to WOWT, a bystander captured video of the incident on Wednesday, showing the autonomous car stopping on the tracks as a Valley Metro light rail train approached. The passenger can be seen quickly exiting the vehicle before it continued rolling forward toward the train.
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Valley Metro Confirms Quick Response to Prevent Collision
A Valley Metro spokesperson confirmed that the agency acted swiftly to prevent an accident after being alerted by a nearby employee.
“Light rail operations staff responded to the scene, and Waymo was contacted. To minimize service impacts, northbound and southbound trains exchanged passengers before reversing direction to continue service,”
The quick action by rail operators and transit control avoided a potentially catastrophic collision between the autonomous vehicle and the oncoming train.
Waymo Investigates How Vehicle Ended Up on Tracks
Waymo, which operates a fleet of fully autonomous taxis across Phoenix and San Francisco, confirmed it was notified of the incident and is investigating how the vehicle ended up on the train tracks.
The company’s self-driving vehicles are equipped with 29 cameras, radar, and lidar sensors that constantly map their surroundings. Routes and software systems are reportedly updated weekly, but the area where the passenger exited was under construction, which may have caused confusion in the vehicle’s mapping data.
The autonomous car’s navigation system appeared to misinterpret the construction area as a drivable road, leading it directly onto the rail line.
Growing Scrutiny on Self-Driving Vehicle Safety
This latest incident adds to the ongoing debate over the safety and reliability of self-driving technology. Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., has faced increasing scrutiny as more videos surface of its autonomous cars struggling with construction zones, blocked streets, and emergency vehicles.
Transportation officials in Arizona have yet to comment on whether the incident will result in additional oversight or temporary restrictions on Waymo’s operations in the area.
The company has not reported any injuries connected to this event, but the passenger’s reaction to jump out of the car underscores growing public unease with autonomous vehicles in unpredictable environments.
