In a startling display of teen exuberance, several young people were seen hanging out of a Waymo autonomous vehicle as it navigated through the bustling streets of Santa Monica during Friday’s rush hour. Captured at approximately 6 p.m. on Olympic Boulevard, the scene raised concerns regarding safety and the conduct of the teens involved.
Witness Rojia Shahsavani, who recorded the incident, expressed her alarm at the sight. “I couldn’t believe my eyes; it was a frightening situation,” she recounted. The images show teenagers perched on the vehicle’s window ledges while others leaned out, all of them seemingly unfazed by the rush of traffic around them.
Concern for Safety
Shahsavani observed that the group included boys who appeared to be around 15 years old, with a younger companion, possibly around 10, actively taking selfies from the precarious perch. Fearing for their safety, she attempted to intervene by calling Waymo’s customer service, hoping they could remotely halt the vehicle. To her dismay, she was informed that the car could indeed be disabled, yet it continued its journey as the boys hung out of the windows.
Despite Shahsavani’s efforts to alert the boys, even yelling for them to return inside the vehicle, they paid no heed. She recollected following the Waymo for several blocks, feeling an urgent concern not just for the teens, but for other drivers and pedestrians in the vicinity.
Public Reaction
“It’s hard to wrap my head around the idea of teenagers hanging out of a Waymo,” Shahsavani remarked. “They were not only putting themselves in danger but also jeopardizing the safety of nearby drivers and pedestrians.” As the situation unfolded, other drivers also voiced their concern, likely echoing Shahsavani’s sentiments regarding the recklessness displayed.
Eyewitness News reached out to Waymo for an official statement regarding the incident but had not yet received a response at the time of reporting. As discussions around autonomous driving safety continue, incidents like this spotlight the need for regulation and monitoring of passenger behavior, especially among younger riders.
