Driverless Waymo Car Pulled Over in California After Illegal U-Turn

In San Bruno, California, police officers encountered an unusual traffic stop when they noticed a Waymo driverless vehicle making an illegal U-turn directly in front of them. Upon pulling the car over, officers discovered there was no human driver behind the wheel, leaving them unable to issue a conventional traffic ticket. The San Bruno Police Department humorously commented that they could not ‘book a robot,’ emphasizing the legal and procedural gap when it comes to ticketing autonomous vehicles. The Waymo car complied with commands to stop after officers activated lights and sirens. Authorities then contacted Waymo staff through the car’s onboard communication system. Police expressed hope that the company could reprogram the vehicle to prevent further violations. New legislation is being drafted in California to allow police to issue tickets or notices directly to companies operating autonomous vehicles, closing this loophole. Waymo has acknowledged the incident and stated it is investigating, reaffirming its commitment to learning from mistakes to ensure public safety. The company has been testing its autonomous cars in San Bruno since June, but this is not the first issue. Earlier in the year one of its vehicles drove in circles uncontrollably, and last year the company had to update its software after residents complained about excessive honking. These incidents highlight both the progress and persistent challenges of integrating autonomous vehicles into everyday traffic systems.