After a Big Lobbying Push, Robotaxi Companies Are Wreaking Havoc on San Francisco’s Streets
Driverless taxi companies Waymo and Cruise have long track records of crashes, near misses, and interfering with emergency personnel. But after spending nearly $2 million on lobbying in California, the robotaxis have been given free rein in San Francisco.
A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
In the lead-up to California regulators voting earlier this month to allow driverless taxis to operate with near impunity in San Francisco, the companies behind the autonomous vehicles, Cruise and Waymo, spent nearly $2 million on lobbying in the state, including wining and dining nearly three dozen state officials.
What’s more, one of the three “yes” votes on the matter came from Cruise’s former top lawyer, who was appointed to the four-member commission by California governor Gavin Newsom in 2021.
The controversial and precedent-setting approval came despite the fact that the two driverless taxi companies have long track records of crashes, near misses, and emergency personnel interferences, according to records uncovered by the Lever.
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