A San Francisco man's Waymo ride turned terrifying when the self-driving car entered a construction zone on Highway 101, ignoring cones, signs, and lights before accelerating. Passenger Elliot Slade recounted shouting for the vehicle to stop as a highway patrol car began chasing them. The incident is part of a broader pattern—Waymo has recalled nearly 4,000 vehicles after seven similar Bay Area cases were reported in a single day. The company has since restricted freeway access while updating its software to better handle construction zones.

Transportation experts, including UC Berkeley’s Scott Moura, emphasize the need for better data sharing between construction agencies and autonomous vehicle systems. While such hiccups are expected with emerging technology, public trust hinges on safety improvements. Slade, who feared for his life, said he now avoids Waymo altogether—taking Uber home that night and riding only once since.

The event underscores ongoing challenges in deploying autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments. Waymo’s voluntary restrictions suggest caution, but incidents like this raise questions about readiness. As cities adapt infrastructure, companies must ensure their systems respond reliably to dynamic road conditions.