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SF Supervisor Seeks County Votes on Robotaxis After Waymo Kills Mission District Cat

Experts are questioning whether current self-driving systems can reliably detect small animals.

Overview

  • Supervisor Jackie Fielder introduced a resolution urging state leaders to let counties decide whether autonomous taxis can operate, following a rally outside Randa’s Market.
  • Waymo confirmed its vehicle killed KitKat and said the cat darted under the car as it pulled away, offering condolences and pledging a donation to an animal group.
  • Two eyewitnesses disputed Waymo’s description, saying the cat stood in front of the vehicle for several seconds before moving beneath it.
  • Waymo has not released video or full incident details, prompting experts and community members to call for greater transparency about detection, alerts and training data.
  • Industry experts cautioned that county-by-county rules could create a patchwork, while pointing to technical limits like lack of undercarriage sensing and proposing targeted geo-fencing as an alternative.