A Waymo passenger fled from a self-driving car that stopped on Phoenix light rail tracks as a train approached, an incident recorded by a bystander on January 7 near Central and Southern avenues.
@12newsazA Waymo self-driving car was caught on camera driving down a light rail track in Phoenix.
The Waymo vehicle reportedly remained on the tracks for a short time before continuing on adjacent tracks, demonstrating difficulties in responding to unexpected environments.
Phoenix police responded to the situation but found that the Waymo vehicle had left the area before their arrival. Authorities confirmed no disruptions occurred to light rail services.
A Valley Metro spokesperson indicated that operations staff were alerted, and trains briefly reversed direction to mitigate service impacts, with the scene cleared in about 15 minutes.
Arizona State University professor Andrew Maynard characterized the event as a rare “edge case,” highlighting that self-driving cars can struggle with sudden structural changes, such as new light rail extensions or nearby construction.
Maynard noted that while autonomous vehicles often perform better than human drivers on mapped roads, they lack the human intuition to navigate unfamiliar scenarios effectively.
Previous incidents involving Waymo vehicles, including a near-miss where a ride swerved into oncoming traffic, continue to raise concerns regarding the reliability and safety of autonomous systems.
Despite ongoing incidents, Maynard stated that autonomous vehicles tend to be safer than human drivers due to fewer distractions and faster responses once issues are recognized.
