Imagine trying to sleep while self-driving cars honk at each other outside your window. That’s the reality for residents in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood. As reported by nbcbayarea, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been causing a ruckus in a parking lot off 2nd Street near Harrison Street, leaving neighbors frustrated and exhausted.
The honking incidents, which have been going on for weeks, occur when Waymo cars enter the lot to pause between rides. Around 4 am every night, the vehicles seem to reach a honking peak, automatically reacting to each other’s presence as they attempt to back into parking spots.
“It’s been a real nightmare,” says Christopher Cherry, who lives in a building adjacent to the lot as reported by Arstechnica. “I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been jolted awake by the incessant honking.”
Waymo has acknowledged the issue and promised to take action. “We are aware that in some scenarios our vehicles may briefly honk while navigating our parking lots,” a spokesperson stated. “We have identified the cause and are in the process of implementing a fix.”
However, with no human operators in the vehicles, resolving the situation directly has proven challenging. As of August 14, 2024, Waymo’s fix is still a work in progress, leaving residents wondering when they’ll finally get a good night’s sleep.
The honking fiasco raises questions about the unintended consequences of self-driving technology in urban environments. As companies like Waymo continue to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles, it’s crucial to consider the impact on the communities they operate in.
For now, South of Market residents can only hope that Waymo’s promised fix comes sooner rather than later. Until then, they’ll have to find ways to cope with the nightly symphony of self-driving cars.
Image credit: Wikimedia
