In a significant escalation of anti-driverless vehicle sentiment, a crowd in San Francisco vandalized and set fire to a Waymo self-driving car using a firework on Saturday, according to reports from the Alphabet-owned company and local authorities.
The incident, occurring in the city’s Chinatown district, unfolded as the vehicle navigated a street amid Lunar New Year celebrations.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene where individuals jumped onto the car’s hood, breaking its windshield and initiating further damage with skateboards and graffiti. The situation culminated in the vehicle being engulfed in flames, emitting a large plume of smoke visible in videos shared online.
Waymo confirmed that a firework thrown into the vehicle caused the blaze, resulting in significant damage to the car. Thankfully, no passengers were present, and there were no reported injuries.
While the company vowed to cooperate with law enforcement in investigating the incident, the San Francisco Police Department has yet to disclose any arrests or motives behind the attack.
This event, while not the first instance of hostility towards autonomous vehicles, stands out for its severity, raising concerns about growing public antipathy following past accidents involving driverless cars.
Notably, last year’s pedestrian-dragging incident involving a vehicle operated by General Motors’ Cruise unit has contributed to heightened scrutiny and distrust of self-driving technology.
Despite these challenges, Waymo remains committed to its ride-hailing service, emphasizing its continued operations during local festivities. Nevertheless, the incident underscores the need for increased safety measures and public awareness efforts to mitigate hostility towards autonomous vehicles.
In the broader context, this attack reflects a broader societal shift in attitudes toward emerging technologies and underscores the importance of addressing public concerns surrounding their safety and implementation.
