Emergency first responders in San Francisco and Phoenix are raising concerns that Waymo's self-driving taxis have become more unpredictable and hazardous over time. In interviews with WIRED, firefighters, paramedics, and police officers described incidents where Waymo vehicles failed to recognize emergency scenes, blocked fire hydrants, or stopped in the middle of intersections during active calls.
"I believe the technology was deployed too quickly," said a San Francisco fire lieutenant who asked to remain anonymous. "We've seen a clear uptick in problems over the past six months. The cars just don't know how to react to us."
Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina acknowledged the feedback but emphasized that the company has logged millions of miles without causing a fatality. "We continuously improve our system based on real-world data, and we take all reports from first responders seriously," she said.
However, multiple responders told WIRED that Waymo's performance seems to be degrading rather than improving. A Phoenix paramedic recalled an incident where a Waymo blocked access to a patient's home, forcing the ambulance to reroute. "It just sat there, hazard lights flashing. We had to push it out of the way with our truck."
The issue is particularly acute in dense urban areas and during emergency scenes with flashing lights and barriers. First responders say the vehicles struggle to identify temporary traffic patterns, such as cones or hand signals from officers.
Waymo is not alone: competitors like Cruise have faced similar criticism. But as Waymo expands to more cities, the chorus of concern from those on the front lines is getting harder to ignore.