Waymo Driverless Car Stalls at Santa Monica Chick-fil-A, Causes Major Traffic Jam
A Waymo driverless car might not be sentient yet, but it certainly caused a major traffic jam at a Chick-fil-A drive-thru in Santa Monica on Monday night. Hungry patrons lined up at the popular chicken chain, only to find themselves stuck behind a Waymo taxi that had stalled right at the entrance of the drive-thru.
The Midnight Fast-Food Fiasco
The incident took place around 9:30 PM when the Waymo car, lights on but empty inside, caused a logjam as other customers tried to grab a late-night meal. Eyewitnesses told KTLA-TV that Waymo’s driverless vehicle appeared to be confused, attempting to back up and then screeching to a halt, seemingly realizing it might not have the funds for a meal. Workers gathered around the car, trying to figure out how to resolve the situation.
Chick-fil-A’s Drive-Thru Chaos
The Waymo taxi’s detour ended up being so disruptive that the drive-thru, which typically operates late into the night, had to shut down before several customers could order their beloved chicken sandwiches. As the car remained stuck, the Waymo team was called in to recover the vehicle from the scene.
Is the Car Just Lost or Really Hungry?
At this point, it’s unclear whether anyone was inside the car trying to get some food or if the vehicle had simply lost its way. Regardless of the reason, the unfortunate detour left a trail of frustrated late-night patrons in its wake.
Not the First Time Waymo’s Had Trouble
This isn’t the first time a Waymo vehicle has had some difficulties on the road. A couple of months ago, one Waymo passenger claimed to have missed their flight because the car kept circling a parking lot endlessly, unable to find the exit.
In another bizarre incident from last summer, a police officer was shocked when he pulled over a Waymo that had driven into oncoming traffic, only to find there was no one in the driver’s seat.
Waymo’s Purpose: “Eat Mor Chikin”
Looks like Waymo may have more than just navigating roads in mind. It appears this driverless car’s main mission for the night was simply to enjoy some Chick-fil-A, although its execution was far from smooth. For now, it’s clear that Waymo cars might not be quite ready for a late-night drive-thru adventure.
