A Waymo autonomous vehicle was filmed driving directly into police crime scene tape in Harlesden, west London, narrowly missing a police car before coming to a halt. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening following a double stabbing on Harlesden High Street.
Incident Details
The white electric vehicle, designed to operate as a fully autonomous taxi, forced its way through the tape erected by police. Loud beeps were heard as the car pushed past the barrier into the cordoned-off area. Two police officers were seen speaking with the driver before the vehicle reversed away.
Driver Suspended
The driver involved in the crash has been suspended pending an investigation. A Waymo spokesperson stated: 'We sincerely apologise for any disruption caused by this validation driver, who was operating the vehicle in manual mode. We take this matter seriously and are working with our operations partner to ensure appropriate actions are taken.'
Testing in London
Waymo has been testing its self-driving cars in London since last autumn, initially with safety drivers. Now, some vehicles are controlled by artificial intelligence, with a human seated in the driver's seat for emergencies. The company plans to launch a fully autonomous taxi service in London by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet, has partnered with Jaguar. Its white fleet is easily identifiable by the large camera equipment mounted on the tops and sides of the vehicles. The firm already operates driverless services in US cities including San Francisco, Miami, and Atlanta.
Challenges and Concerns
The vehicles are currently being tested in 19 London boroughs and must overcome challenges unique to British roads, such as roundabouts and zebra crossings. There are significant concerns about the safety and security of driverless cars, including risks from cyberattacks.
Customers will eventually be able to hail the cabs via an app, though airport drop-offs will not be available initially. Prices are expected to be premium but competitive, with surge pricing similar to Uber.
