By Steven Symes 
A new report is shedding light on something we’ve long wondered about: rider safety concerns for robotaxi services. The report, which is out of San Francisco, concentrates just on Waymo, which is owned by Google parent company Alphabet, but we think most if not all of the concerns apply to fully autonomous cars in general.
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As we’ve seen in the past, some people in San Francisco have been around robotaxis enough to know how to mess with them, even “hacking” the cars. It could be something as simple as a cyclist weaving in front of a Waymo or pedestrians putting cones in front of or on the hood of the vehicle, halting its progress temporarily.
That in turn leaves the people riding inside almost defenseless, as highlighted in a report from The Washington Post. Unnamed Waymo riders shared with the newspaper their experiences, including a pedestrian trying to open one robotaxi while holding a knife, the vehicle stopped at a red light.
The victims in these cases have expressed how frustrating it is knowing a human driver could take a side street, speed off, or engage in other evasive maneuvers to remove them from potential danger. However, a representative from Waymo emphasized to The Washington Post that harassment and people trying to get into robotaxis that are occupied have been “extremely rare” events.
Somehow, that rarity doesn’t seem to have comforted riders who have experienced the anomalies. Obviously, more work has to be done with the technology. In the meantime, there are some distinct advantages to having a human driver, even if that also comes with drawbacks.
🚨Warning to women in SF 🚨
— Amina (@Amina_io) September 30, 2024
I love Waymo but this was scary 😣
2 men stopped in front of my car and demanded that I give my number.
It left me stuck as the car was stalled in the street.
Thankfully, it only lasted a few minutes…
Ladies please be aware of this pic.twitter.com/6VEqb1WoJb
One woman who was followed home by men allegedly catcalling her and her sister who were inside the Waymo taxi said she didn’t get the other vehicle’s license plate. When she asked Waymo for the information off the robotaxi’s cameras, she claims the company declined to provide that.
That same woman says during the incident she panicked and couldn’t figure out how to reroute the vehicle so it wouldn’t lead the men following her to her home. That apparently can be done through the phone app, although we don’t know how quickly or easily it can be accomplished.
People panic in emergency situations and some will struggle to complete even basic tasks. Perhaps an emergency SOS rerouting option available with a single press of a button would help in those scenarios?
One common theme that runs throughout the report are women who say they’ve used robotaxis since rideshare drivers have made them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Being in a vehicle alone provides them with the perception of greater security, unless someone outside the car presents a perceived threat. Suddenly, in that situation, it seems being alone isn’t so preferable, which is sadly ironic.
Image via Waymo