Angry mob?
A lively Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco took an unexpected turn with the most violent attack on a self-driving car in the United States on record. The scene unfolded in Chinatown, where a crowd quickly gathered around the self-driving car of Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet.
According to a Waymo spokesperson, the situation escalated when people surrounded the car during the festivities. A video shot by a witness shows boisterous celebration blocked by fireworks, and a person jumped on the hood of the car, breaking its windshield. Then other participants joined the attack, using skateboards to vandalize a car, breaking the windows. The situation reached a critical point when someone set off fireworks inside the carcausing a fire.
The Waymo car was surrounded and then graffitied, windows smashed, and fireworks set off inside the car, which eventually engulfed the entire car. #SFFD
Photos by Séraphine Hossenlopp pic.twitter.com/aOTqL3Rk8V— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT Media (@SFFDPIO) February 11, 2024
The image of self-driving cars is tarnished
San Francisco police have launched an investigation into the incident. Footage released by firefighters shows the charred remains of the car, confirming that fireworks were the cause of the fire. Waymo quickly reassured the public by confirming that there were no passengers on board the vehicle during the attack, there were no casualties. The company is working closely with local authorities, although the exact cause of the attack remains unclear.
This fire is part of a series of attacks on autonomous vehicles in the past. Viral videos have documented similar disruptions in San Francisco and Phoenix, a sign of growing public hostility to the technology. The event highlights the challenges facing companies working in the field of autonomous vehicles. It emphasizes public hostility, potentially exacerbated by previous incidents.
While the investigation is ongoing, the autonomous vehicle industry must move quickly enhance the safety of their vehicles and improve their image restore public trust.
This attack also highlights the need for authorities to take action to prevent such acts of violence against new technologies.
Read also:
- Restyled Dacia Spring shows off its silhouette
- Tesla Cybertruck: Rusting after two days in the rain?
- Digital driver’s license: what to do if your phone is stolen?
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.