A Waymo autonomous taxi drove on the wrong side of a San Francisco street Friday to avoid colliding with cyclists.
At around 9:30 P.M. Friday, the taxi was recorded crossing over the double-yellow dividing line and driving at least one block on the left side of the road.
Once the car, which was carrying a passenger, passed a group of cyclists, it crossed back into the correct lane. The taxi then halted just before an intersection after a unicyclist passed in front of the vehicle in an attempt to stop it.
Waymo told the San Francisco Chronicle that the autonomous vehicle moved into the opposite lane out of concern for the cyclists ahead of it. According to the company, the vehicle initiated a passing maneuver but stayed in the lane too long.
This is the latest in a string of similar issues that have raised questions about the safety of autonomous taxis in big cities. Waymo, which operates robotaxis in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin, Texas, works with city safety officials to help avoid such incidents.
Still, citizens have experienced similar situations for months as Waymo expands its operations in the U.S. Last week, a group of stopped Waymo taxis blocked the entrance to a San Francisco freeway, stopping traffic for a half hour.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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