Waymo detour leaves SF tourist temporarily stuck inside garage with other robotaxis

A Waymo robotaxi unexpectedly diverted to a parking garage during a ride for Darren Findling, a Michigan resident attending a convention in San Francisco. Findling shared his experience on social media, highlighting the surreal transition from a busy street to a garage filled with self-parking autonomous vehicles. After the detour, he managed to contact a Waymo representative, who helped redirect the vehicle back on track. Waymo stated that the vehicle entered the garage because it calculated that route as the fastest option. Despite the hiccup, Findling appreciated the company's prompt assistance and received two free rides as compensation.

He acknowledged the imperfections of the technology but remains open to using autonomous vehicles again in the future. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in the development of self-driving technology. The experience illustrates the potential for unexpected scenarios in the realm of autonomous transportation.