In a terrifying incident captured on video, a driverless Waymo car came to a stop directly between railway tracks with the crossing barrier resting on its roof as a train passed just inches away. The alarming event occurred on Saturday in Austin, Texas, though fortunately no passenger was inside the vehicle at the time.
Video Evidence of the Railroad Crossing Incident
The footage, recorded by Tristyn K Donovan and shared on TikTok, shows the autonomous vehicle stationary on the tracks as the train speeds perilously close. According to company analysis, the Waymo had been approaching the railroad crossing at 22 miles per hour and began slowing down when approximately 13 meters from the crossing gate.
Waymo's Official Statement and Investigation
A spokesperson for Waymo told The Independent that their vehicles have safely navigated railroad crossings millions of times autonomously. In this instance, the company stated the vehicle performed a controlled stop more than 2.5 meters before the tracks after the crossing lights activated.
The investigation revealed the vehicle was acting conservatively about crossing once the flashing red light activated, with the system determining it had stopped at a safe distance from the tracks. However, the spokesperson acknowledged the concern caused by stopping past the crossing gate.
Temporary Restrictions and System Review
Waymo has announced temporary restrictions on its vehicles' travel at similar crossings while conducting a thorough analysis of the incident and developing improvements to the stopping system's response. The company confirmed a second, similar incident had recently occurred where a vehicle traveling at about 20 mph stopped 2.5 meters from the track after the crossing gate.
Previous Emergency Response Concerns
These railroad incidents follow another concerning event where a Waymo vehicle temporarily blocked an ambulance responding to a mass shooting in Austin on March 1. Footage showed the autonomous car completely obstructing the street as emergency services approached.
In that case, a police officer communicated with the company via the car's speaker system, and the vehicle moved into a parking garage approximately one minute later. Austin-Travis County EMS chief Robert Luckritz stated authorities did not believe the incident affected emergency responders' work, but it raised questions about autonomous vehicle operations around emergency scenes.
Company Commitment to Safety Improvements
Waymo representatives emphasized their dedication to learning from these situations and improving road safety in the cities they serve. The company noted that while their vehicles regularly navigate interactions with emergency vehicles in dense urban environments, they remain committed to continuous system enhancement.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges facing autonomous vehicle technology as it operates in complex real-world environments, particularly around railroad crossings and emergency response situations.
