A driverless Waymo vehicle has provoked fury in Miami after it brought traffic to a standstill by stopping inexplicably on a busy bridge. The incident, which occurred on Monday, saw the autonomous robotaxi freeze at a green light on the Venetian Causeway Bridge, creating a significant backlog of vehicles.
Chaos on the Causeway
Footage from the scene showed the white Jaguar I-PACE robotaxi stationary while traffic rapidly built up behind it. Frustrated drivers resorted to sounding their horns as the vehicle remained immobile. The situation escalated when the driver of a yellow Jeep, trapped directly behind the Waymo car, was compelled to steer into oncoming traffic to navigate around the obstruction.
It remains unclear exactly how or when the malfunctioning vehicle was eventually removed from the bridge. The Daily Mail has contacted the Miami Police Department for further details on the incident's resolution.
Official Condemnation and Public Backlash
The event has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and residents alike, coming just months after Waymo launched its fully autonomous service in the Florida city in November. Initially, the company tested its vehicles with safety drivers before removing them.
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez led the condemnation, taking to social media platform X to voice serious safety concerns. "Miami-Dade welcomes innovation, but never at the expense of public safety," Gonzalez stated. He demanded that "critical issues such as vehicles freezing in the middle of traffic must be fully resolved before any deployment" if Waymo intends to continue operating in the area.
Public reaction on social media was swift and severe. One Miami local warned Waymo on X, "this isn’t California. Miami doesn’t tolerate reckless rollouts or corporate arrogance. Respect our city or don’t expect to last here." Others highlighted the specific disruption caused, noting the bridge's importance and the potential for hours-long traffic delays.
Company Response and Divided Opinions
In response to the incident, a Waymo spokesperson told the Daily Mail that safety is the company's "highest priority." The spokesperson added, "We are committed to learning from situations like this to improve for the future." It is notable that the vehicle was unoccupied at the time, as Waymo prepares to launch its public ride-hailing service in Miami later this year.
While many expressed anger, some social media users defended the technology, suggesting it is still in a learning phase. One person who had used the service in Los Angeles claimed the vehicles are "way better drivers than most drivers here," while another argued they drive better than "human aggressive drivers in Miami."
This incident places renewed scrutiny on the real-world deployment of autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments, raising pivotal questions about reliability and public safety before wider public adoption.
