UMVA has learned that a neighborhood in Atlanta has been inundated with empty, driverless ride-share vehicles in recent weeks, causing frustration and concern among residents.
The northwest Buckhead neighborhood has been particularly affected, with multiple cul-de-sacs and streets being repeatedly circled by the rogue vehicles. A neighbor who lives on Battleview Drive described the situation as a "problem" that's occurring "almost every little cul-de-sac in our area".
Video footage shows the Waymo vehicles incessantly circling through a cul-de-sac, with multiple cars causing a backup on one street after a neighbor tried to block them from entering. One resident estimated that 50 cars passed through their area between 6 and 7 am on one morning.
The issue is more than just an irritation for residents, who are worried about safety. "We're families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning and it just doesn't feel safe to have that traffic," a third neighbor pointed out.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Waymo operates in 11 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, and that the company has acknowledged the problem. A spokesperson said that Waymos are staged in areas of the city where they are frequently hailed from, but that shouldn't come at the expense of residents.
The company claimed to be committed to being good neighbors and said it takes community feedback seriously. Waymo has already worked with its fleet partner to address the routing behavior issue, and emphasized that its service is designed to significantly reduce traffic injuries and improve road safety.
However, this is not the only issue Waymo has faced recently. The company recalled nearly 4,000 of its vehicles due to a glitch where they may not stop before driving into standing water. There have also been incidents of Waymos running red lights and hitting pedestrians.
In one notable incident, a Waymo hit a student walking through a crosswalk near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. The car was driving at a low speed and the student wasn't hurt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also investigated Waymo in the past for allegedly passing stopped school buses.
