Bullying Prevention Month- Surprised to see a self-driving taxi being pranked

In a recent interview, a woman discussed a troubling experience she had while riding in a Waymo taxi, shedding light on the disturbing trend of harassment towards self-driving vehicles. She shared a video that captures the moment two men approached her in the middle of the street, asking for her phone number, as the autonomous vehicle came to a halt. This incident reflects a growing pattern of anti-social behavior targeting defenseless self-driving cars, raising serious concerns about passenger safety.

According to a report by the San Francisco Standard, police were involved in a separate incident in July when a man blocked a Waymo taxi and yelled at it. This individual went on to assault a person with disabilities, resulting in significant injuries. Just last month, another woman in San Francisco’s South Market area reported a similar encounter with two men who demanded her contact information while she was in a Waymo.

Understandably, passengers are scared during these harrowing confrontations, as the self-driving cars often remain immobile, leaving them trapped inside until the aggressors clear the area.

Waymo confirmed an alarming occurrence on October 2, related to an event from September 28 around 7:30 PM. A TikTok video showed a disturbing scene where a man, believed to be gang-affiliated, attacked passengers by spraying graffiti on the taxi’s window.

A spokesperson for Waymo emphasized that such incidents are “extremely rare,” considering the hundreds of thousands of rides they offer every month. In any case of incident, Waymo is dedicated to reaching out to affected passengers to ensure their well-being and promptly notifying local authorities for further investigation.

Moreover, this summer, two Bay Area residents faced legal repercussions from Waymo for allegedly vandalizing their vehicles. A lawsuit filed on July 1 accused Ronaile Burton, a San Francisco resident, of intentionally slashing the tires of 19 Waymo taxis over a span of just a few days, resulting in nearly $22,000 worth of damages. The lawsuit alleged that Burton “intentionally and unlawfully cut, punctured, and damaged the tires” while the taxis were in operation.

In another case, a lawsuit submitted on July 16 accused Konstantine Nikka-Sher Piterman, a former Republican congressional candidate, of deliberately ramming his Tesla into a Waymo taxi twice on March 19, causing up to $46,000 in damages. Waymo also claimed that Piterman spread false and defamatory statements online.

Both lawsuits are seeking compensation for the damages incurred.