A Waymo driverless taxi undergoing testing in London unexpectedly entered a secured crime scene on Wednesday evening, prompting an investigation and raising questions about safety protocols.

Incident Details

The incident occurred in Harlesden, northwest London, where police had closed a road following a double stabbing. Footage shows the Waymo vehicle passing police lights and a ‘Do Not Cross’ tape. The vehicle emitted beeps before stopping, and officers spoke with the occupant before it reversed.

Waymo’s Response

Ethan Teicher, a Waymo spokesperson, confirmed the vehicle was being driven manually at the time and stated the driver has been suspended. Waymo’s initial analysis suggests the car would have detected the hazard and stopped if operating in autonomous mode.

The company apologized for any disruption caused by the ‘validation driver’ and pledged to work with its partner to implement corrective measures.

Safety and Regulatory Concerns

This incident has sparked concerns about the safety of deploying driverless cars on UK roads, including potential cyberattacks and navigating unique UK road features like roundabouts and zebra crossings.

Testing and Expansion Plans

Waymo has been testing vehicles in London since last autumn, initially with safety drivers and more recently with fully AI-controlled operation with human oversight. The company, a subsidiary of Alphabet, is preparing for a rollout by the fourth quarter of 2026.

Currently, Waymo is testing across 19 London boroughs and operates fully driverless services in several US cities, including San Francisco, Miami, and Atlanta. Plans include an Uber-like app-based hailing system with fluctuating prices, excluding airport drop-offs initially.

London is the primary focus for the UK launch, with potential expansion to cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.

Previous Incidents and Ongoing Debate

The incident adds to scrutiny surrounding autonomous vehicle safety, including previous reports of Waymo cars striking objects without stopping. It has ignited debate about the readiness of UK streets for autonomous vehicles and the need to reevaluate rollout strategies in light of human error during manual override.