The Waymo Trip: From Cats and Dogs Waymo to the Parking Lot
December 12, 2025
Another dinobaby post. No AI unless it is an image. This dinobaby is not Grandma Moses, just Grandpa Arnold.
I am reasonably sure that Google Waymo offers “way more” than any other self driving automobile. It has way more cameras. It has way more publicity. Does it have way more safety than — for instance, a Tesla confused on Highway 101? I don’t know.
I read “Waymo Investigation Could Stop Autonomous Driving in Its Tracks.” The title was snappy, but the subtitle was the real hook:
New video shows a dangerous trend for Waymo autonomous vehicles.
What’s the trend?
Weeks ago, the Austin Independent School District noticed a disturbing trend: Waymo vehicles were not stopping for school buses that had their crossing guard and stop sign deployed.
Oh, Google Waymo smart cars don’t stop for school buses. Kids always look before jumping off a school and dashing across a street to see their friends or rush home to scroll Instagram. Smart software definitely can predict the trajectories of school kids. Well, probability is involved, so there is a teeny tiny chance that a smart car might do the “kill the Mission District” cat. But the chance is teeny tiny.
Thanks, Venice.ai. Good enough.
The write up asserts:
The Austin ISD has been in communication with Waymo regarding the violations, which it reports have occurred approximately 1.5 times per week during this school year. Waymo has informed them that software updates have been issued to address the issue. However, in a letter dated November 20, 2025, the group states that there have been multiple violations since the supposed fix.
What’s with these people in Austin? Chill. Listen to some country western music. Think about moving back to the Left Coast. Get a life.
Instead of doing the Silicon Valley wizardly thing, Austin showed why Texas is not the center of AI intelligence and admiration. The story says:
On Dec. 1, after Waymo received its 20th citation from Austin ISD for the current school year, Austin ISD decided to release the video of the previous infractions to the public. The video shows all 19 instances of Waymo violating school bus safety rules. Perhaps most alarmingly, the violations appear to worsen over time. On November 12, a Waymo vehicle was recorded violating a law by making a left turn onto a street with a school bus, its stop signs and crossbar already deployed. There are children in the crosswalk when the Waymo makes the turn and cuts in front of them. The car stops for a second then continues without letting the kids pass.
Let’s assume that after 16 years of development and investment, the Waymo self driving software intelligence gets an F in school bus recognition. Conjuring up a vehicle that can doddle down 101 at rush hour driven by a robot is a Silicon Valley inspiration. Imagine. One can sit in the automobile, talk on the phone, fiddle with a laptop, or just enjoy coffee and a treat from Philz in peace. Just ignore the imbecilic drivers in other automobiles. Yes, let’s just think it and it will become real.
I know the idea sounds great to anyone who has suffered traffic on 101 or the Foothills, but crushing the Mission District stray cat is just a warm up. What type of publicity heat will maiming Billy or Sally whose father might be a big time attorney who left Seal Team 6 to enforce and defend city, county, state, and federal law? Cats don’t have lawyers. The parents of harmed children either do or can get one pretty easily.
Getting a lawyer is much easier than delivering on a dream that is a bit of nightmare after 16 years and an untold amount of money. But the idea is a good one. Sort of.
Stephen E Arnold, December 12, 2025
Comments
Got something to say?
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
