4 days ago
Why residents of Google's home city are 'upset' with its driverless cars
Residents of
Santa Monica
,
California
are reportedly upset and protesting the frequent noise-pollution from Google-backed Waymo
driverless cars
. While the driverless electric cars with rotating sensors first seemed like a novelty, some residents are now complaining that the charging stations make constant noise. 'To hear it from residents, the beeping never seems to stop, largely due to a state regulation requiring electric vehicles to audibly reverse like delivery trucks,' the LA Times reported.
'They beep as they back out of charging spots, and beep as they reverse to navigate around each other. They beep in the morning as they head out to pick up early passengers, and beep late at night as they return to charge up,' it added.
California residents 'fed up' with Waymo
As per the report, residents are fed up to the extent that they are protesting against driver-less cars. 'City officials, a judge and even police have been forced to intercede after residents who say the self-driving cars are a nuisance have banded together against the local 56-vehicle fleet. They've reached out to the city. They've called Waymo. Now, some are trying unconventional tactics,' the report stated.
It further added, 'Using cones, cars and sometimes themselves, residents have taken to blocking the Waymos from entering their company-funded parking lot, so much so that the company has called the cops on them a half dozen times.'
A local resident named Darius Boorn told the publication: 'I want the noise stopped. I thought it was cool, and then those freaking noises started. And then I thought, 'Oh no, this can't be happening.''
What Waymo said
In a statement to LA Times, a
Waymo
spokesperson said that the company 'will continue to learn and improve how we introduce ourselves to new communities when we arrive.'
'We strive to be good neighbors in the cities that we operate, and are committed to being a positive presence in Santa Monica. We are in ongoing conversation with the City's Department of Transportation, and are actively working with the agency as we explore and implement mitigations that address neighbors' concerns,' another spokesperson told Fox Business.
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