Asger Risom
In a surprising twist, a fully autonomous vehicle escaped penalty after making an illegal U-turn in front of police in California. Officers were left unable to issue a citation—because there was no human driver behind the wheel.
In a surprising twist, a fully autonomous vehicle escaped penalty after making an illegal U-turn in front of police in California. Officers were left unable to issue a citation — because there was no human driver behind the wheel.
A Robot Behind the Wheel
A Waymo self-driving car was pulled over in San Bruno, California, after performing an illegal U-turn directly in front of police at a red light. But officers quickly realized they couldn’t write a ticket, because the vehicle was unoccupied.
No Driver, No Ticket
According to the San Bruno Police Department, the law currently requires a human recipient for a traffic citation. The vehicle’s lack of a driver meant no one could legally be held responsible.
Police Call It a “Plot Twist”
Authorities described the incident as a “plot twist,” noting the absence of hands, a driver, or any clue at the scene. Their attempt to stop the vehicle was successful, as the car responded promptly to flashing lights and sirens.
Communicating With the Car’s Handler
After pulling over, the Waymo car connected officers to a remote operator. Police were able to communicate with a company representative using onboard technology designed for such interactions.
The Loophole in Law
Though officers couldn’t issue a ticket, a new California law signed last year aims to close that loophole. Starting July next year, authorities will be allowed to issue “notices of noncompliance” to the companies responsible.
Emergency Contact Rules Incoming
The same legislation will mandate that companies like Waymo establish a direct emergency hotline for first responders; a step toward greater accountability in autonomous vehicle operations.
Waymo Responds to Incident
Waymo confirmed it is reviewing the incident. A spokesperson said ongoing learnings will help further improve the system’s performance and safety.
A Decade in the Making
Waymo originated from Google’s X research lab over a decade ago and has grown into one of the leaders in autonomous vehicle technology, using sensors and cameras to navigate roads.
Not the First Tech Glitch
Earlier this year, Waymo had to recall more than 1,200 vehicles after a software issue led to crashes involving stationary objects like gates and chains, raising concerns over reliability.
Under Federal Investigation
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating Waymo after receiving over 20 complaints about the vehicles allegedly violating traffic laws.
The Road Ahead
As laws evolve and self-driving cars become more prevalent, the legal system is racing to catch up. For now, some driverless cars can technically break the law.
This article is made and published by Asger Risom, which may have used AI in the preparation
