A Waymo robotaxi passenger was left terrified after his ride sped through a construction zone and even escaped the police.
He took to X to share his ordeal, where he highlighted that Waymo was not ready to operate on the highway. The vehicle allegedly hit some cones and swerved through huge trucks.
This raises questions about the safety of the occupants, especially given how a police chase could have ended.
Waymo went on to pause its operations on freeways in select cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami, just two days after the incident.
But it remains unclear if that particular incident led the company to take a drastic step and work on an update to make the cars safer for the freeway.
Passenger Sees “Death Flash” Before His Eyes in a Waymo
A user on X by the name @Elliot_slade shared his Waymo encounter on May 19, explaining he often uses Waymo robotaxi services in the city, but this time, he and a companion used it to travel on the freeway.
However, the road was closed. What followed was an experience the user will likely never forget. He wrote:
“Just saw death flash before my eyes in a @Waymo
“I use these a lot on the city but tonight we took the freeway and the road was closed.
“Waymo freaked out and sped up to highway speeds through construction trucks, police chased us.
“Genuinely thought we were about to die.”
Just saw death flash before my eyes in a @Waymo
I use these a lot on the city but tonight we took the freeway and the road was closed.
Waymo freaked out and sped up to highway speeds through construction trucks, police chased us.
Genuinely thought we were about to die.
— QuietLight (@Elliot_slade) May 19, 2026
The user shared another post on X, describing the scary ride experience and how he felt helpless at that moment. He wrote:
“The Waymo blasted through cones, swerved huge trucks and sped away from the cops.
“Was kinda freaking out, had my girl in the seat next to me. You can get the sirens.
“Genuinely the freakiest experience I’ve ever had, felt utterly helpless.
“These are not ready for highways.”
The Waymo blasted through cones, swerved huge trucks and sped away from the cops.
Was kinda freaking out, had my girl in the seat next to me. You can get the sirens.
Genuinely the freakiest experience I’ve ever had, felt utterly helpless.
These are not ready for highways. pic.twitter.com/S1HNQx0VGh
— QuietLight (@Elliot_slade) May 19, 2026
The user then commented on his own post, revealing how a remote operator came online before the robotaxi sped through a construction zone. He wrote:
“Right before it started freaking out a remote operator or something came on board. It told us to keep seatbelts on, it tried to merge – when it couldn’t it darted right through traffic cones and police and accelerated to highway speeds into a construction zone.”
Right before it started freaking out a remote operator or something came on board. It told us to keep seatbelts on, it tried to merge – when it couldn’t it darted right through traffic cones and police and accelerated to highway speeds into a construction zone. pic.twitter.com/pLMCKHx9mx
— QuietLight (@Elliot_slade) May 19, 2026
Waymo Suspends Robotaxi Services on Freeways to Improve Performance
Just two days after @Elliot_slade revealed his experience on X, Waymo suspended robotaxi operations on freeways in the cities mentioned earlier to integrate “recent technical learnings” into its software.
Notably, Waymo robotaxis are operating on surface streets in the cities in question. Waymo did not reveal a timeline for the suspension, but it said freeway operations would resume soon.
Waymo began freeway operations in the cities toward the end of last year, helping passengers reduce travel time. The suspension of its freeway operations may have affected several users who prefer the highway for faster travel.