Current:Home > ScamsTrendPulse|Self-driving Waymo cars gather in a San Francisco neighborhood, confusing residents -TradeWisdom
TrendPulse|Self-driving Waymo cars gather in a San Francisco neighborhood, confusing residents
Algosensey Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-11 01:10:34
It was a modern mystery.
In a tiny neighborhood in San Francisco's Richmond District,TrendPulse self-driving Waymo cars have been converging at all hours of the day and night, mystifying neighbors, KPIX reported earlier this week. Most would drive to the dead-end on 15th Avenue, where they then had no choice but to turn around and leave, according to the outlet — and neighbors have no idea why.
"I noticed it while I was sleeping. I awoke to a strange hum that I thought there was a spacecraft outside my window," Jennifer King, a resident of the neighborhood, told the outlet.
She added later, "There's some days it can be up to 50 [cars], literally every five minutes, and we're all working from home, so this is what we hear."
The random influx of cars has been puzzling for residents. The cars aren't carting passengers to and fro, according to a Verge report. And when locals have asked the drivers why they're in the neighborhood, they reply that the cars are "programmed" and they're just "doing their job," KPIX reported.
When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for Waymo chalked up the weird happenings to traffic signs. There are one-way streets as well as Slow Streets — residential streets that drivers are discouraged from using for through traffic — in the area, the spokesperson told NPR..
"We continually adjust to dynamic San Francisco road rules," the spokesperson said. "In this case, cars traveling North of California on 15th Avenue have to take a U-turn due to the presence of Slow Streets signage on Lake. So, the Waymo Driver was obeying the same road rules that any car is required to follow." The company calls its autonomous technology Waymo Driver.
Still, explanation or no, one look at Twitter shows that the unofficial Invasion of the Self-Driving Cars has caught people's attention. One user referred to it as a "Black Mirror episode," referencing, of course, the dark dystopian Netflix series. Another joked that the "the robot revolution is not imminent."
"Waymo menace," another Twitter user wrote.
As for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, he kept his response simple: "Haha."
veryGood! (464)
Related
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Blinken visits Ukraine to tout US support for Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s advances
- Uber driver accused of breaking into passenger's home, raping her, after dropping her off
- Unrepentant Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans goes up against GOP Rep. Carol Miller in West Virginia
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Maine governor declines to remove sheriff accused of wrongdoing
- Cannes kicks off with Greta Gerwig’s jury and a Palme d’Or for Meryl Streep
- Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt's Daughter Vivienne Makes Rare TV Appearance
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Primaries in Maryland and West Virginia will shape the battle this fall for a Senate majority
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Harry Dunn, former US Capitol police officer, running in competitive Maryland congressional primary
- Van driver dies in rear-end crash with bus on I-74, several others are lightly injured
- New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez's corruption trial begins. Here's what to know.
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Why King Charles III's New Military Role for Prince William Is Sparking Controversy
- 3 men charged in Whitey Bulger’s 2018 prison killing have plea deals, prosecutors say
- Whoopi Goldberg Reveals She Lost Weight of 2 People Due to Drug Mounjaro
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Scrutiny still follows Boston Celtics, even if on brink of eliminating Cleveland Cavaliers
South Carolina governor happy with tax cuts, teacher raises but wants health and energy bills done
AP Investigation: In hundreds of deadly police encounters, officers broke multiple safety guidelines
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Cleveland Guardians latest MLB team to show off new City Connect uniforms
Truck driver accused of intentionally killing Utah officer had been holding a woman against her will
A$AP Rocky Shares Rare Photos of Him and Rihanna With Their Kids for Son RZA’s Birthday