Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Behaved Unexpectedly, Driving away from Support Crew

In May 2021, a Waymo self-driving taxi in Chandler, Arizona became confused and stranded when encountering construction cones on a road during a passenger trip. The incident lasted 41 minutes and was documented on video by passenger Joel Johnson. The vehicle first paused at a stop sign rather than turning onto a street lined with cones, received improper guidance from Waymo remote workers, then completed the turn but stopped in the road blocking traffic. After a four-minute stop, it backed up further blocking the lane while human motorists had to cross double yellow lines to pass. Construction workers removed a cone from the vehicle's path but it remained stopped. The car then unexpectedly drove away while a Waymo worker was explaining through the audio system that roadside assistance was coming, surprising both the worker and passenger. The vehicle became stuck again among more cones, and when roadside assistance arrived, it drove away again before finally being stopped and taken over by a human driver. Johnson arrived 20 minutes late at his destination and received a refund from Waymo.