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Lyft and Uber drivers protested in San Francisco on Friday, demanding stricter regulation of Waymo’s self-driving taxis. The demonstration, held outside the offices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), called for greater regulation of self-driving cars in the wake of recent pet killings and traffic disruptions.
About two dozen drivers and their supporters held signs advocating for safer streets and greater accountability, coinciding with a CPUC meeting to discuss further self-driving car regulations.
A steady stream of Waymo vehicles drove by during the protest, highlighting the growing popularity of white cars in San Francisco.
“I’m not personally against technology; I’m against unfair treatment,” said Joseph Augusto, who does both. Uber and Lyft. “We have these people, these companies, these self-driving car companies, driving around the city, but they don’t seem to be held to the same standards as us drivers.”
this california As the industry evolves, the Public Utility Commission, which oversees Uber and Lyft, is refining and expanding policy on self-driving robotaxis. The California Gig Workers Alliance says the vehicles should be removed from the streets until safety concerns are resolved.
The state agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither does Waymo’s owner. Google‘s parent company, letter.
A beleaguered Waymos clogged the streets of San Francisco during a massive outage days before Christmas, forcing the company to suspend service and raising questions about the cars’ ability to adapt to real-world driving conditions.
In September, a Waymo made an illegal U-turn in front of a sign telling drivers not to do so, but San Bruno police were unable to issue a ticket because there was no human driver. In October, a Waymo crushed and killed a neighbor’s popular cat named Kit Kat.
Driver Augusto said that on December 20, when the lights went out in San Francisco, he saw Waymos stopped at an intersection with people rushing around them.
“There are a lot of Waymos around. Just randomly all over the city and without any plan,” he said.