Waymo's robotaxis have become a paradox: they're statistically safer than human drivers, yet they're creating new kinds of chaos in American cities. A study by Swiss Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, found that Waymo's self-driving cars were involved in far fewer claims than human drivers, with an 88% reduction in property-damage claims and a 92% reduction in injury claims over 25.3 million autonomous miles. Yet at the same time, residents in Santa Monica are suing the company over round-the-clock beeping from charging stations, teenagers are bypassing parental controls to joyride across Los Angeles, and the company is facing a reckoning about what it means to share public streets with machines that don't follow human social norms.

Why Are Waymos Becoming a Neighborhood Nuisance?

When Waymo's white Jaguar robotaxis first appeared on Los Angeles streets, they were a novelty. Pedestrians pointed and took photos. But as the fleet expanded, the charm wore off, replaced by a different kind of attention. In Santa Monica, residents near the intersection of Euclid and Broadway have complained vociferously about the constant beeping and humming of Waymos as they pull into Voltera charging stations. The noise is so disruptive that Santa Monica officials demanded the lots cease operations between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. When Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, refused, the city sued. Waymo countersued. The lawsuits are pending.

This is not an isolated complaint. The company has also faced recalls to fix problems including driving into highway construction zones, across flooded roadways, and into chains, gates, and telephone poles. In October, a Waymo ran over a beloved San Francisco bodega cat named KitKat that had wandered under the vehicle. The incident sparked a "Justice for KitKat" rally and calls to strip autonomous vehicle regulations from the state and give them to counties.

How Are Families Actually Using Waymo, and What Could Go Wrong?

For parents juggling busy schedules, Waymo has become an unexpected solution. In January, the New York Times quoted affluent parents praising the service as a way to get teenagers around safely without interaction with unknown adults. One Los Angeles parent, raising a teenage niece, initially resisted using the service but eventually gave in, appreciating that her niece could listen to music at top volume without worrying about tipping a driver.

But the service has a critical vulnerability: weak safeguards around minors. The parent discovered that her niece had figured out how to order Waymos using an Apple Cash account, racking up hundreds of dollars in unauthorized rides across the city, including late-night trips with friends. When the parent called Waymo support, the bot killed the account, but the incident revealed a gap in the company's oversight. Technically, minors are not supposed to ride without an adult, though Waymo does run a pilot program in Phoenix for 14- to 17-year-olds.

The problem extends beyond parental control. In June, a woman driving on Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica filmed a Waymo with teenage and preteen boys dangling out the windows, smartphones in hand. She contacted Waymo customer service asking that the car be remotely shut down, but the car did not stop. A Waymo spokesperson said the accounts associated with the young riders had been suspended, but the incident underscored how the company responds only after misuse is discovered.

Steps to Understand Waymo's Safety Record and Limitations

• Safety Statistics: Waymo's vehicles showed an 88% reduction in property-damage claims and a 92% reduction in injury claims compared to human drivers over 25.3 million autonomous miles, according to Swiss Re research.
• Operational Incidents: The company has recalled thousands of vehicles to fix problems like entering construction zones, crossing flooded roads, and hitting stationary objects like poles and gates.
• Behavioral Issues: Waymo recently reprogrammed its vehicles to drive "more confidently assertive," meaning they now make aggressive turns and lane changes that human drivers find rude, even if technically safe.

What Do Safety Advocates Actually Think About Waymos Near Schools?

In February, a 9-year-old child darted into the street midblock in front of Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica during morning drop-off and was hit by a passing Waymo traveling at 17 miles per hour. The vehicle slammed on its brakes but was unable to stop in time. The child was not seriously injured and did not require hospitalization.

The incident might have sparked outrage from parents, but it had the opposite effect. Parents understood that a human driver, with human reflexes, probably would not have been able to stop as quickly as the robot car did. Leonora Camner, a Santa Monica parent and safe streets advocate, stated that "the presence of more Waymo vehicles, combined with better street design and traffic calming, moves our community in the direction of safer streets for children".

This perspective reflects a broader reality: Waymos are statistically safer than human drivers, but they create new kinds of friction in urban life. They honk like geese when they turn in for the night. They make aggressive left turns that feel rude. They can be hacked by teenagers with digital payment accounts. They run over beloved neighborhood cats. And yet, when it comes to the metrics that matter most, they perform better than the alternative.

As Waymo expands into London and Tokyo, the company is learning that technological superiority is not the same as social acceptance. The robotaxis are convenient, safe, and increasingly obnoxious, all at the same time. The question is not whether they work, but whether cities and residents will tolerate them as they become ubiquitous.