Police Pull Over Waymo to Check for Drunk Driving

A few months ago, the San Francisco Chronicle documented a subtle shift in how Waymo robotaxis were navigating the roads: they were driving more like humans. Their behavior was more “assertive,” honking at drivers that cut them off, and getting a rolling start while waiting for a pedestrian to finish crossing the street. These weren’t just an aesthetic change — Waymo bragged that its cars’ human qualities actually made them safer.

But maybe they’re a little too human. Now, the robotaxis are getting pulled over like your average driver, too.

On Friday night, cops in the Bay Area city of San Bruno who were on the lookout for drunk drivers stopped a car after it made an illegal U-turn at a traffic light — only to realize there was no one in the driver’s seat. There was no smell of booze or