Stephanie, a tech worker, recounted a harrowing experience to The Washington Post. While riding home late at night with her sister, a group of men in another car began following their driverless taxi, honking and shouting inappropriate comments. “If it were a human driver, I could’ve asked them to reroute,” she said. Unable to redirect the autonomous car, she called the police, only to be told officers couldn’t assist a moving vehicle. When she later requested video footage from Waymo to report the incident, she said the company declined to share it.
Similar stories have surfaced on social media. In one video, Amina, a growth engineer, showed two men blocking her Waymo car and demanding her phone number. The car remained stationary, waiting for the men to move, leaving Amina trapped. “I love Waymo, but this was scary,” she wrote. Another video depicted a vandalized Waymo vehicle, its exterior marked with graffiti while a man sat inside holding a dog.
These incidents highlight vulnerabilities in driverless technology, particularly the inability of autonomous systems to respond dynamically to threats. Critics argue that while driverless taxis offer convenience and sustainability, they lack the human intuition needed to handle unpredictable and dangerous situations.
Waymo has not publicly addressed these specific incidents but continues to expand its services, raising questions about safety protocols for passengers and the ethical responsibility of AI-driven transportation. For many, the promise of a safer, more efficient ride remains overshadowed by these troubling encounters.
However, Waymo posted on its official blog:
20This year alone, Waymo delivered over 4 million fully autonomous rides, bringing the total to more than 5 million rides. Riders spent over 1 million hours in their own trusted spaces, using the time to work, sing karaoke, or simply relax. With its all-electric fleet powered by renewable energy, Waymo helped riders avoid over 6 million kilograms of CO2 emissions.
To offer even more travel options, Waymo expanded its service areas across all cities in 2024, now covering nearly 500 square miles across four major metropolitan regions. Popular destinations included Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, The Ferry Building in San Francisco, and The Grove shopping center in Los Angeles.
Frequent Waymo One riders can now enjoy a personalized 2024 Year in Review. Riders who took more than four trips this year can access a summary of their travels and sustainable contributions. By updating the Waymo One app, riders can explore their Year in Review and share it with friends.
Waymo also made meaningful contributions to its communities in 2024. The company supported blinded veterans, offered options for neurodivergent travelers, and helped connect riders to public transit, enhancing independence and accessibility for many.
As the year closes, Waymo looks forward to the future. With Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles now fully open to the public, the potential to provide safe and sustainable transportation continues to grow. Plans are underway for commercial launches in Austin and Atlanta via the Uber app in 2025, along with a Miami launch in 2026 in partnership with Moove. Additionally, Waymo is preparing for its first international collaboration in Tokyo next year with Nihon Kotsu and GO.
Waymo thanks its riders for being part of the journey in 2024 and invites new passengers to join the celebration in 2025. For those ready to experience the future of transportation, the Waymo One app is available to download today.
*Avoided emissions calculated based on a rate of 237g/passenger mile, average vehicle occupancy of 1.5 passengers, and trip lengths averaging 4.1 miles. More details on Waymo’s methodology and renewable energy program are available online.