Safety concerns around driverless taxis have been reignited after a viral TikTok video showed a passenger discovering a strange man already inside the boot of a self-driving vehicle operated by Waymo.
The incident, shared on TikTok by user luckythurman, appears to show a Waymo vehicle pulling over before the passenger realises someone is inside the rear storage area. The video has quickly gained traction online, with many viewers questioning how such a situation could occur in a fully autonomous, commercially operated vehicle.
What Happened?
According to the video, the passenger had booked what they believed to be a standard Waymo driverless taxi. However, during the journey, it became apparent that another individual was already inside the boot area of the vehicle.
It is currently unclear how the individual gained access, whether the boot was intentionally opened beforehand, or whether this was a system, security, or human-intervention failure.
Why This Raises Serious Safety Questions
Driverless taxis are marketed on the basis of controlled access, constant monitoring, and advanced safety systems. An unauthorised person being inside the vehicle raises multiple concerns, including:
- Passenger safety and personal security
- Vehicle access and pre-ride checks
- Monitoring of internal vehicle spaces
- Emergency response protocols when no driver is present
For passengers, the expectation is that a driverless taxi should be more predictable and secure, not less.
DM News Commentary
From a taxi and private hire perspective, this is exactly the type of scenario many drivers warn about when discussing fully autonomous vehicles.
A licensed taxi or private hire driver would immediately notice:
- Someone hiding in the boot
- Unusual vehicle weight or movement
- Any breach of passenger safety
With no human driver present, responsibility shifts entirely to software, sensors, and remote oversight — and incidents like this highlight the potential gaps.
For now, driverless taxis may work well in controlled environments, but real-world use brings unpredictable human behaviour into the equation. Until systems can guarantee 100% secure vehicle access, many passengers may still feel safer knowing there’s a trained, licensed driver behind the wheel.
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