Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Waymo Self-Driving Car Stuck on Rail Tracks in Phoenix
A self-driving car from Waymo got stuck on train tracks in Phoenix, Arizona.
The passenger had to quickly get out and run away as a train was coming.
The car kept moving on the tracks even after the passenger left.
This happened in an area where there was construction, and the train tracks were new, which might have confused the car's system.
The company that runs the trains was told about the problem right away.
This isn't the first time Waymo cars have had issues.
Last month, some of their cars got stuck in San Francisco because of a power outage.
After this latest problem, people are saying that self-driving cars need stricter rules to make sure they are safe.
A Waymo self-driving car got stuck on rail tracks in Phoenix, forcing the passenger to escape as a train approached.
The incident occurred in a construction area with newly added light rail, potentially confusing the car's system.
Valley Metro, which operates the rail, was immediately notified and confirmed the incident caused no significant delays.
This is not the first issue for Waymo; last month, a power outage in San Francisco caused their cars to get stuck at intersections.
The incident has renewed calls for stricter regulations in the self-driving car industry.
- Who
- Waymo, Valley Metro, and an unidentified passenger
- What
- A Waymo self-driving car got stuck on rail tracks, forcing the passenger to escape
- When
- January 7, 2026, around 9 a.m.
- Where
- Phoenix, Arizona, near Southern Avenue and Central Avenue
- Why
- The car's operating system may have been confused by recent construction and the newly added light rail
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Date
- January 7, 2026
- Time
- Approximately 9 a.m.
- Company Involved
- Waymo
- Operating Region
- San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Metro Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta
- Fleet Size
- More than 2,500 vehicles
- Incident Duration
- Scene cleared by 9:15 a.m.
- Previous Incident
- December 20, 2025 (San Francisco power outage)