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2w ago

Waymo Driverless Taxi Stalls in Santa Monica Chick-fil-A Drive-Thru

The autonomous vehicle became immobilized during a multi-point turn, causing traffic delays and forcing the restaurant to close early.

An autonomous Waymo drives along Venice Beach on March 14, 2024, in Los Angeles. The robotaxi company is expanding to cities across the country.
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Overview

  • A Waymo robotaxi, operating without passengers, got stuck in a Chick-fil-A drive-thru in Santa Monica on April 9, 2025.
  • The vehicle was unable to complete a multi-point turn in the constrained space due to the proximity of other cars in the drive-thru lane.
  • The incident caused significant traffic backup and led to the early closure of the drive-thru-only restaurant, disrupting customer service.
  • Waymo confirmed the incident and sent workers to recover the vehicle, acknowledging ongoing challenges with navigation in tight urban settings.
  • This event adds to a series of reported operational issues with Waymo's autonomous vehicles, raising concerns about their reliability and safety in complex environments.