Emergency first responders expressed frustration to federal regulators over Waymo autonomous vehicles blocking emergency responses. Firefighters, police, EMTs, and paramedics reported spending time resolving issues with frozen or stuck self-driving cars during crises. One official described the technology as deployed too hastily.
In a private meeting last month, leaders from emergency services told federal regulators that Waymo's driverless cars are creating obstacles on city streets. Firefighters and police officers said they often have to intervene when vehicles freeze or get stuck amid urgent situations, delaying aid to victims and endangering crews, as one fire official noted: “a safety issue for our crews as well as the victims.” A police official added: “I believe the technology was deployed too quickly in too vast amounts, with hundreds of vehicles, when it wasn’t really ready.” These accounts came from an audio recording obtained by WIRED. First responders highlighted growing frustrations with the expanding fleets of robotaxis, which they say complicate their operations in densely populated areas. The complaints underscore ongoing safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicle deployments.