Archive · 9 Dec 2025
Waymo's Self-Driving Cars Adopt Aggressive Driving Style
Waymo's self-driving cars in San Francisco have started driving more aggressively.
They now make quick turns, change lanes abruptly, and sometimes roll through stops.
Some people like this because it helps with traffic, but others feel unsafe.
The cars have driven over 100 million miles and have fewer serious crashes than human drivers.
However, there have been some close calls, like a car making an illegal U-turn and another accelerating through a crosswalk.
Waymo says the cars still follow the rules, but some people are not sure if they trust the new driving style.
Waymo's self-driving cars in San Francisco have become more assertive, mimicking aggressive human driving behaviors.
A Waymo car was stopped by police in San Bruno for making an illegal U-turn, highlighting the change in driving style.
The software update aims to ease traffic flow by making the cars less passive, but some riders and pedestrians find it unsettling.
Waymo claims the cars have a 91% lower rate of serious injury crashes compared to human drivers.
Residents have mixed reactions, with some appreciating the efficiency but others questioning the safety of the new driving behaviors.
- Who
- Waymo, San Francisco residents, pedestrians
- What
- Waymo's self-driving cars have become more assertive in their driving behavior
- When
- Recent changes, with a notable incident in September
- Where
- San Francisco and nearby areas
- Why
- To ease traffic flow and scale up operations in busy San Francisco streets
- Company
- Waymo
- Location
- San Francisco, California
- Software Change
- More assertive driving behavior
- Incident
- Illegal U-turn in San Bruno
- Miles Driven
- 100 million driverless miles
- Safety Record
- 91% fewer serious injury crashes than human drivers