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Posted on the 9th April 2025 in PHTM News
WAYMO ROBOTAXI CAUSES JAM AT DRIVE THRU IN SANTA MONICA BAFFLING ONLOOKERS
A Waymo driverless taxi caused a traffic jam at a Santa Monica Chick-fil-A drive-thru, leaving customers perplexed and hungry.
Videos circulating online show the autonomous vehicle stalled at the entrance, hazard lights flashing, creating an unusually long line for the popular fast-food restaurant.
The incident occurred around 9:30pm, according to witness Chris Kellogg, who captured the scene on video.
"I waited in line for about a half-hour before being told the drive-thru only restaurant was closed," Kellogg reported.
His videos depict Chick-fil-A employees observing the stationary Waymo, which briefly reversed before halting again.
While Waymo vehicles have experienced navigational glitches since their city deployment, this drive-thru detour is a novel occurrence.
"It’s unclear if anyone was inside the vehicle at the time or if the taxi was directed to the Chick-fil-A as part of a fare — or if it became sentient and required organic matter for fuel," observed onlookers.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google's parent company, confirmed the incident and stated that its "team" retrieved the vehicle.
A spokesperson assured: "We are committed to continuously improving our service and making appropriate updates to prevent this from happening in the future."
The incident raises questions about the evolving capabilities and potential pitfalls of autonomous vehicle technology in everyday scenarios.
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