Residents in London are expressing frustration after several Waymo autonomous vehicles became stuck on dead-end roads, causing early morning disruptions. The incidents have raised concerns about the company's ability to navigate its self-driving technology in complex urban environments.

Repeated Incidents on Quiet Streets

A self-driving Waymo car woke residents of a quiet London street at 4 a.m. after getting stuck while attempting to drive down a dead-end road three times in one week. On Sunday, a resident took to social media to complain after a Waymo vehicle woke him up at 4:15 a.m. The car had entered a narrow city street and was attempting to reverse out, mounting the curb and sagging back onto the cobbles.

Footage of the incident showed the white SUV-style car struggling to navigate the tight space. This was not an isolated event; another Waymo vehicle had become stuck overnight on Wednesday, reversing slowly down the same road.

Previous Incidents and Company Response

These incidents have drawn scrutiny to Waymo's autonomous vehicles since they began testing in London. Earlier this month, a Waymo car plowed into a taped-off crime scene in Harlesden, west London. Waymo later attributed the incident to driver error.

The company, which already operates a completely driverless service in several American cities, is currently testing its fleet of distinctive white Jaguar vehicles in London. These vehicles are designed to offer a completely autonomous, self-driving taxi service.

Future Plans and Expansion

Waymo had initially planned to test the service before a wider rollout as early as September. The company is reportedly planning to expand its autonomous taxi service to other British cities after the initial testing phase in London.