A group of activists in San Francisco has taken to disabling self-driving cars by placing traffic cones on their bonnets, a tactic that forces the vehicles to shut down until a human employee can retrieve them. The group, known as Safe Street Rebel, has been coordinating these actions as part of a campaign against the growing presence of autonomous vehicles in the city.
The activists argue that self-driving cars contribute to car dominance, pose environmental risks, and raise surveillance concerns due to the cameras on the vehicles. They advocate for greater investment in public transport instead of autonomous vehicle technology. The group has intensified its efforts ahead of a vote by the California Public Utilities Commission on 10 August, which could allow companies like Cruise and Waymo to expand their operations in San Francisco.
Safe Street Rebel is not alone in its concerns. The San Francisco Fire Chief has reported nearly 40 instances where driverless cars interfered with emergency operations. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there have been almost 70 autonomous vehicle collisions in 2023, including an incident where a dog was struck and killed by a Waymo vehicle.
One activist, who chose to remain anonymous due to potential legal repercussions, said: 'We represent an extreme pole of the conversation that is strongly anti-car. I am not delusional, I know the city is not likely to ban robot cars. But what we are trying to do is move the needle in opposition to these vehicles. And it’s working.'
The city has acknowledged the growing concern and is seeking to address it ahead of the vote. Critics argue that autonomous vehicle companies lack transparency, releasing only sparing safety reports without comprehensive data. An activist from Safe Street Rebel stated: 'If this is a service for the public, the public should have data and be able to audit it.'
