The Risky Encounter with a Waymo Driverless Vehicle in Tempe

Recently, a driverless Waymo vehicle made headlines after being captured on camera driving towards oncoming traffic in Tempe near ASU’s campus. The incident occurred near Rural Road and Lemon Street, leaving witnesses in shock.

Two recent graduates, Aiselyn Anaya-Hall and Emmie Wuest, were driving on Rural Road when they encountered the autonomous vehicle. Anaya-Hall started recording from the passenger seat as they watched the Waymo make a turn into their lane, leading to a potentially dangerous situation. Wuest had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision with the Waymo.

Reflecting on the incident, Wuest expressed concerns about accountability when it comes to driverless vehicles making mistakes. She emphasized the need for thorough investigations and holding companies like Waymo responsible for ensuring community safety.

Waymo responded to the incident by acknowledging the importance of community trust and safety. They stated that the Waymo Driver successfully rerouted its course to avoid any harm, highlighting their commitment to continuously improving system performance for navigating complex scenarios.

Andrew Maynard, a professor at ASU’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society, emphasized the imperfect nature of technology but reaffirmed the safety benefits of driverless vehicles. While incidents like these raise questions about improvement, Maynard believes that driverless technology remains a safer option overall.

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