Protesters Have Figured Out They Can Block Waymos and Berate Their Passengers While the Cars Are Paralyzed

Waymo robotaxis are programmed to stop when pedestrians are detected, which can immobilize the vehicles in crowds.

In January, a protester hit a Waymo vehicle and threatened its passengers for six minutes while the car remained stopped.

Police and Waymo customer service were contacted but did not immediately resolve the situation, and passengers reported feeling helpless.

One passenger said they avoided using Waymo for a time and will avoid night rides until the company changes its pedestrian safety policy.