Residents in a neighborhood located in Atlanta, Georgia, have experienced a bizarre and borderline frightening phenomenon at their cul-de-sac involving driverless vehicles. Apparently, a bunch of empty Waymos have visited the dead end for weeks, which resulted in the cars aimlessly looping around it for hours.
As reported by WSB-TV, the strange AI-vehicle happenings started weeks ago, although the driverless cars appeared months ago. Residents in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood were left dumbfounded when, suddenly, dozens of Waymos would routinely circle their cul-de-sac without an explanation. Furthermore, they really seemed to enjoy the area, as the driverless cars would loop endlessly in the dead-end street, trying to figure out how to break out of their tech spell.
Worried neighbors attempted to circumvent the issue by installing a Step2Kid sign on Battleview Drive. Initially, the strategy proved to be a success, as the cul-de-sac was emptied in the blink of an eye. However, this led to a whole different issue, with multiple Waymos, even up to eight at once, trying to turn around, to no avail.
The situation got so critical that not only was Battleview Drive and the neighborhood’s cul-de-sac the de facto home for the driverless machines, but also other nearby streets and their cul-de-sacs.
Neighbors Worry About Safety
Multiple residents talked with WSB-TV and detailed that the number of Waymos in the area poses a safety issue for them and their children. One neighbor in particular detailed that around 50 Waymos had entered the street in the span of an hour during the morning.
“We’re families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning, and it just doesn’t feel safe to have that traffic,” another neighbor told the outlet.
Reportedly, the neighbors have contacted Waymo and have gotten no response from them. Meanwhile, they also contacted the Georgia Department of Transportation, representatives, and their city council member.
“We would like to just see them stay on main traffic roads,” a neighbor said. “I don’t think there’s any reason for them to be on small residential cul-de-sacs if they’re not picking up somebody.”
Waymo Responds
While the neighbors have yet to hear from Waymo, the company, an Alphabet Inc. subsidiary, shared a statement with the outlet. The company detailed that they were “committed to being good neighbors” and said that they had “addressed this routing behavior.” The company added that its service reduces traffic injuries and improves road safety.
“We value our relationship with Atlanta residents and remain focused on providing a seamless, respectful, and safe experience for riders and residents alike,” the statement concluded.