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Waymo Confirms SF In‑Ride Birth as LA Trunk Scare Prompts Safety Changes

Waymo underscores safety controls, citing remote monitoring in the birth case alongside procedural changes after a Los Angeles trunk intrusion.

Overview

  • In San Francisco on Monday, a rider delivered a baby in a driverless Waymo en route to UCSF after Rider Support flagged “unusual activity,” contacted her and 911, and the car reached the hospital before emergency crews.
  • Waymo took the vehicle out of service for cleaning and said such births are rare, noting a prior similar incident in Phoenix.
  • In Los Angeles, a customer near MacArthur Park found a man in the trunk of an arriving Waymo; police removed him and made no arrest, and the company issued a ride credit and checked on the rider.
  • Waymo said the man entered after a previous rider left the trunk open and said it is implementing procedural changes, as observers questioned why onboard systems did not detect a person in the luggage area.
  • The incidents come as Waymo contends with a recent recall of more than 3,000 vehicles over passing stopped school buses and an NHTSA request for an explanation by Jan. 20.