Waymos Are a Huge Drain on Public Resources, Government Data Shows

"The actions of Uber executives and engineers are in line with the 'move fast and break things' culture that is promoted in Silicon Valley, one which is motivated first and foremost by beating competitors to market by launching a minimum viable product and capturing market share as quickly as possible in the pursuit of monopoly."

"Self-driving cars are no longer just a dangerous beta test unfolding on public roads, they're a resource drain diverting time, money, and personnel away from the public in search of profits. Take San Francisco, where autonomous vehicles are draining city resources at an alarming rate."

"After Waymo phased out in-car safety monitors from its taxis in June of 2024, the city's Municipal Transportation Agency faced an influx of unplanned stop complaints, forcing it to create a new category for emergency and transit dispatchers known as 'Driverless Car Incidents.'"

Autonomous vehicles represent a corporate experiment prioritizing speed to market over safety, exemplified by Uber's 2018 death of pedestrian Elaine Herzberg. Silicon Valley's 'move fast and break things' culture has enabled thousands of self-driving vehicles to operate on public roads as beta tests. By 2026, these vehicles have become significant resource drains on municipalities. San Francisco's experience demonstrates how companies like Waymo exploit public infrastructure: after removing in-car safety monitors in June 2024, the city experienced a surge in malfunctions requiring emergency dispatch resources. Municipal agencies now dedicate personnel and time to managing autonomous vehicle incidents, diverting attention and funding from public services while private companies accumulate profits.

Read at Futurism