Across metro Phoenix, riders are sharing clips and stories of tense moments inside Waymo robotaxis, from cars freezing in intersections to one that came to a halt on light-rail tracks and others that briefly slipped into the path of oncoming traffic. Those scenes, caught by bystanders or recounted to local reporters, are fueling fresh questions about how fully driverless cars handle construction zones, new transit projects and the general chaos of real-world streets. For people who signed up to avoid distracted human drivers, the hiccups have been a rude surprise.
Customer complaints stack up across the Valley
Local coverage has compiled multiple rider accounts of Waymo trips gone sideways, including stalled cars, abrupt reversals and moments when vehicles hesitated in active traffic lanes. As detailed by The Arizona Republic, the reported issues stretch across the Valley and include both passenger complaints and police dispatch notes.
Rider bails after car stops on light-rail tracks
One standout incident on Jan. 7 shows a rider scrambling out after a Waymo steered onto northbound light-rail tracks near Central and Southern avenues, according to video from the scene. A train-service worker said staff were alerted and adjusted operations around the stalled vehicle. Valley Metro provided a statement on how it handled the situation to local TV, according to Arizona’s Family, and the agency reported that the tracks were cleared quickly with no major delays.
Police stop a Waymo after it slips into oncoming lane
Dispatch logs from a June 2024 call show Phoenix police pulling over a Waymo after it ran a red light and briefly moved into an oncoming lane, according to records and video. TechCrunch reported that Waymo told journalists the car had encountered “inconsistent construction signage” and became unable to safely navigate back to the correct lane during that stop. The timing overlapped with a federal review of software and mapping issues, and the Associated Press later outlined a recall and related software and map updates after a Waymo hit a utility pole in Arizona.
Crash numbers and the broader safety picture
A local review of federal data identified about 202 crashes involving Waymo vehicles in Arizona from 2021 through 2024, with roughly 31 leading to injuries. Many police reports ultimately concluded the robotaxis were not at fault. Investigators pulled those figures together and reported them publicly, adding some hard numbers to rider worries and helping spur additional reporting and regulatory attention, per Arizona’s Family.
Waymo points to software fixes as service grows
Waymo has told local outlets that it regularly rolls out mapping and software updates and has pushed patches meant to prevent collisions with things like gates and poles. At the same time, the company has been widening its footprint, including adding selected freeway routes in metro Phoenix late last year, even as it works on fixes and continues talking with regulators and transit agencies, as reported by KJZZ.
What riders are being told to do
Riders who feel unsafe say they are encouraged to record what they can, flag trips in the Waymo app and share video with reporters or local authorities when an incident seems serious. Passengers told journalists that those recordings often play a key role in investigations by both the company and police. Transit and public-safety officials around the Valley say they will keep coordinating with Waymo to limit service disruptions and to help ensure autonomous cars react properly to changing road and rail conditions…