A Waymo autonomous vehicle was targeted by vandals in San Francisco on Saturday evening, resulting in significant damage and raising concerns about the safety of self-driving technology.
The incident, captured on video and corroborated by eyewitness accounts, involved a group of individuals vandalizing the Jaguar I-Pace. They initially defaced the vehicle with graffiti before escalating their actions by smashing the windows and throwing fireworks inside. Consequently, the car caught fire and burned extensively before the San Francisco Fire Department arrived to extinguish the blaze.
Fortunately, no passengers were inside the Waymo vehicle during the attack, and no bystanders were reported injured. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed the incident via Twitter, sharing images of the burned-out vehicle and stating that fireworks ignited the fire.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. It’s currently unknown whether a specific event triggered the vandalism or if it was a premeditated act. Waymo is cooperating with local authorities to investigate the incident.
In a statement to MaagX, Waymo confirmed their collaboration with safety officials and reiterated their commitment to continuing their autonomous ridesharing service in San Francisco. The Alphabet-owned company has been testing self-driving cars in the city for years and recently obtained authorization to charge passengers for rides as part of a pilot program.
This incident follows a recent collision involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle and a cyclist, resulting in minor injuries to the cyclist. It also comes after a more serious incident in October 2023, where a Cruise autonomous vehicle stopped on top of a pedestrian shortly after she was struck by a human-driven car. This led to the suspension of Cruise’s autonomous vehicle testing permit in San Francisco and a nationwide halt to their testing program.
While this specific attack stands out for its severity, vandalism against Waymo vehicles isn’t entirely new. Previous incidents have included slashed tires and rocks thrown at the cars. Concerns surrounding road safety and potential job displacement due to autonomous driving technology are speculated to be motivating factors behind some of these acts, although the reasons for this particular incident are yet to be determined.
Waymo’s commitment to continuing operations in San Francisco underscores the company’s resilience in the face of these challenges. However, the incident highlights the ongoing need for addressing public concerns and ensuring the safety and security of autonomous vehicles.
This latest act of vandalism serves as a reminder of the complex challenges surrounding the integration of self-driving cars into our cities and the importance of fostering public trust and understanding of this evolving technology.
