Emergency first responders in San Francisco and Austin have expressed growing frustration with the performance of Waymo's autonomous vehicles. Fire officials report that these cars often freeze or block access to fire stations, preventing timely responses during emergencies. In Austin, Lieutenant William White noted that Waymo vehicles frequently ignore police hand signals, leading to further delays.

The issue is not just about inconvenience; it’s a safety concern for both emergency crews and the public they serve. San Francisco's Mary Ellen Carroll described these vehicles as 'a safety issue,' highlighting cases where wayward cars caused significant delays during an emergency power outage last year.

Waymo claims to be addressing such concerns through partnerships and training programs, but evidence suggests that their technology is still not robust enough for widespread deployment. The company's rapid expansion plans could face further setbacks if these issues are not resolved promptly.