What's happened
During a DUI operation in San Bruno, a Waymo autonomous vehicle made an illegal U-turn and was stopped by police. No ticket was issued due to the absence of a human driver, but the incident highlights ongoing challenges with autonomous vehicle regulation and safety. The story is current as of October 1, 2025.
What's behind the headline?
This incident underscores the ongoing difficulties in integrating autonomous vehicles into existing traffic law frameworks. The police's inability to issue a ticket due to the lack of a human driver reveals a legal gap that current legislation is only beginning to address. The viral social media response demonstrates public concern and skepticism about autonomous vehicle safety, especially when these vehicles act unpredictably. The incident also highlights the strategic advantage for companies like Waymo to monitor and improve their systems, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies. The upcoming legislation will likely formalize enforcement procedures, but until then, autonomous vehicles remain outside traditional policing methods, raising questions about accountability and safety standards in the rapidly evolving landscape of driverless technology.
What the papers say
The Independent, AP News, Business Insider UK, NY Post, The Guardian all report on the San Bruno incident, emphasizing the vehicle's lack of a driver and the police's response. The Independent and AP News focus on the viral social media posts and the legislative context, while Business Insider UK provides detailed background on past incidents involving Waymo. The NY Post highlights the police's perspective and the public's reaction, and The Guardian offers a comprehensive overview, including California's legislative developments. Contrasting opinions are minimal, but some sources emphasize regulatory monitoring (Waymo's statement), while others focus on public safety concerns and legal gaps. Overall, the coverage converges on the incident as a sign of the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle regulation and public acceptance.
How we got here
San Bruno police conducted a DUI enforcement operation when they stopped a Waymo autonomous vehicle making an illegal U-turn. The vehicle was empty, with no driver present, which prevented police from issuing a traditional ticket. This incident follows a series of past autonomous vehicle malfunctions and reflects evolving legislation in California aimed at regulating driverless cars, including the upcoming ability for police to report violations directly to the DMV starting July 2026.
Go deeper
Common question
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Are Self-Driving Cars Breaking Laws Today?
Autonomous vehicles are rapidly expanding in cities across the US, but recent incidents like Waymo's illegal U-turn in San Bruno have raised questions about their legal status. Are these driverless cars breaking traffic laws? What does current legislation say about their compliance? Below, we explore the key issues surrounding autonomous vehicles and the legal challenges they face today.
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Are Self-Driving Cars Safe to Use?
Autonomous vehicles are rapidly becoming part of our roads, but many still wonder: are they safe? Incidents like Waymo's illegal U-turns during police stops highlight ongoing challenges. In this page, we explore the safety of driverless cars, the laws governing them, and what risks they pose to pedestrians and drivers alike. Keep reading to find out what’s being done to improve safety and what future risks might look like.
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Waymo LLC is an American autonomous driving technology development company. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google.
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