A viral TikTok video has sparked fresh concerns over the safety and public perception of autonomous vehicles after showing a series of incidents involving Waymo’s driverless taxis in Phoenix, Arizona.
Waymo Crashes into Bollard with Passengers Onboard
In one of the clips, a Waymo vehicle is seen ploughing into a bollard while carrying passengers. The footage quickly spread across social media, drawing criticism and highlighting fears about the limitations of object detection systems in real-world urban environments.
Waymo has not publicly addressed this specific crash, but similar incidents in the past have prompted the company to issue software updates and even recalls to improve detection and avoidance features in its self-driving fleet.
Another Waymo Attacked in the Street
Another part of the TikTok shows a Waymo car being smashed up and vandalised — a scene reminiscent of public anger seen elsewhere. Notably, in early 2024, a Waymo robotaxi was torched in San Francisco’s Chinatown during a protest. This latest video clip further demonstrates the growing public mistrust and frustration towards autonomous vehicles, especially when they operate in busy cities without a human driver present.
Rear-End Crash Highlights New Safety Worries
The final segment of the video shows a standard vehicle crashing into the rear of a stationary Waymo taxi. While Waymo was not at fault in this collision, it raises important questions about how human drivers interact with driverless cars. The lack of communication cues — like eye contact or hand gestures — may lead to misunderstandings and dangerous road situations.
What This Means for the UK and the Taxi Industry
As companies like Uber, Bolt, and Lyft continue to invest in autonomous vehicle tech to cut costs and overcome driver shortages, these viral clips send a stark warning. Despite rapid advancements, full public trust in driverless tech still appears a long way off.
In the UK, where the rollout of self-driving tech is more cautious and regulated, this video might reinforce scepticism among councils, private hire operators, and the general public. The future of taxi and ride-hailing services may be autonomous, but these incidents prove we’re not quite ready for mass adoption — not without more testing, safety reassurances, and public education.
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