Austin residents and first responders report issues with robotaxis
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Complaints against self-driving taxis in Austin haven't slowed since the cars first arrived in the area, according to records from the city's Transportation and Public Works department.
Why it matters: General Motors announced this week that it will shut down its Cruise robotaxi project nationally, and the Austin records show that the company and other self-driving car companies have faced an uphill battle in gaining public trust.
- Although Cruise will cease operations, Austin officials are aware of five other companies testing autonomous vehicles in the area.
The big picture: Transportation and Public Works records provided to Axios show that many residents and first responders remain wary of the vehicles, seeing them as a nuisance and traffic hazard.
By the numbers: Of the 73 complaints about robotaxis the city has tracked between July 2023 and Tuesday, 31 were made by fire and police officials. The rest were made by residents or city employees.
- Nearly 30% of the documented incidents have been categorized as a "near miss" by the robotaxi.
- Since July 2023, 53 incidents with Cruise have been reported. The company, which first began operating in Austin in December 2022, briefly paused operations at the end of 2023 over mounting safety concerns by the public.
- There were 19 reports filed about Waymo cars. The company began operating in Austin in March 2023, and Uber riders in Austin will soon see the option to select a Waymo car as their ride.
Zoom in: No deaths from autonomous vehicles have been reported in Austin, but residents have reported the cars in minor collisions, nearly hitting pedestrians, and idling on neighborhood streets all night, the Transportation and Public Works records show.
- Police reported three incidents on the same day with Waymo vehicles during the weekend of Formula 1 and the UT-Georgia football game, one of Austin's busiest times of the year.
- On Oct. 19, a Waymo car ignored Austin police direction and drove past security near the football game. Meanwhile, another Waymo vehicle partly blocked an intersection near campus and prevented an escorted bus from passing through, according to the incident report.
- That same day, a Waymo car ignored Austin police working at an intersection at Riverside Drive and Interstate 35.
- "We were both in uniform with emergency lights and sirens going and the vehicle failed to yield to either of us," the police report said.
What they're saying: During the Austin City Limits Music Festival, one resident reported a speeding Waymo robotaxi near pedestrians downtown.
- "The Waymo vehicle, with its wide-eyed passenger, never slowed as it passed through the pedestrians and by me," the resident wrote. "My continuing concern with Waymo is that its vehicles fail to evaluate unusual road conditions and properly compensate for them."
Some residents take issue with the noise and lights of the cars in the evening.
- "The cars remain running throughout the day and night. At night time, the red rear lights stay on and are shining through my bedroom blinds all night long — this is my biggest issue," one resident wrote about a Waymo car in August. "What if I told you that you had a robot with constant red lights and cameras sitting outside of your house every night? I do not think you would approve of this. Please do something about this for me and my neighbors."
The other side: The rides with issues are just a small fraction of the thousands of Waymo rides given in Austin each week, the company told Axios.
- Plus, the company is aware of every incident sent to the city and remains in close contact with Austin police and other local officials, Waymo added.
- The vehicles have the capability to stop when police officers use appropriate hand signals, the company said, and Waymo has worked with Austin police to train and educate officers on the vehicles.
The intrigue: Waymo estimates that in their first 22 million miles, their vehicles are involved in 73% fewer injury-causing crashes than a human driving the same distance in the cities where they operate.
Reality check: Local officials have little authority over the vehicles.
- A 2017 Texas law preempts local regulation of autonomous vehicles, which has made the state fertile ground for companies' expansion.
- State law requires companies to follow registration requirements, equip the vehicles with a video recording system, and immediately notify authorities of an accident.
What's next: Waymo is slowly rolling out robotaxi rides on the Uber app to select riders, and its full operation on the app will begin next year.
- The company said it also continues to engage with accessibility groups, older adults and homeowner associations to build trust and encourage use.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional comment from Waymo.