A Waymo self-driving taxi sparked alarm in Phoenix after it mistakenly drove onto active light rail tracks, forcing its passenger to jump out and flee to safety as a train approached. The incident, captured on video, quickly spread online.
Rail officials noticed the vehicle and temporarily slowed service while the robotaxi cleared the tracks. No injuries were reported.
The incident appears to be an autonomous “edge case,” possibly caused by recent construction or new rail infrastructure that confused the vehicle’s navigation system. While Waymo vehicles rely on detailed maps and advanced sensors, real-world changes can still create problems.
