A driverless Waymo taxi twice tried to get past California Highway Patrol cars during a traffic break on Interstate 280 in San Francisco, according to video of the incident and officers’ accounts.
The video, originally posted to Instagram, shows the driverless car in the fast lane near Ocean Avenue, quickly approaching two CHP cars tailing what appears to be a Caltrans truck. As the Waymo approaches, the CHP vehicles block its path, forcing it to switch lanes and slow down.
According to officers, the driverless car tried to pass the patrol vehicles twice before officers steered into its path and forced it back behind the line. The incident took place on Friday, November 6.
A traffic break is a common maneuver on Bay Area freeways, in which officers weave across lanes to slow traffic behind them. Drivers are required to slow down and keep a safe distance from the CHP vehicles.
The CHP has not announced whether Waymo will face any citations or penalties over the incident. Waymo did not respond to requests for comment from local media.
