Logo
US NewsUS News

When things get unpredictable in your Waymo, a remote human operator could be on the other line.

That’s the slightly unnerving revelation made by the self-drive company in a recent Senate inquiry.


  Alarming incidents have been captured on video across California in recent months. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock Alarming incidents have been captured on video across California in recent months. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock

Waymo’s chief safety officer Mauricio Peña told the Senate Commerce Committee some of its remote operators are contractors working in other countries, including the Philippines.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

They step in when the robotaxis need backup.

He explained the international operators provide ‘real-time guidance’ as opposed to actually driving the cars remotely, according to KTLA.


  A Waymo vehicle drives past a No U-Turn sign in San Bruno, Calif. AP A Waymo vehicle drives past a No U-Turn sign in San Bruno, Calif. AP

The revelation comes as Californians deal with an alarming rise in incidents involving autonomous vehicles, many captured on video.

Waymo is under federal investigation after one of its self-driving vehicles struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica last week.


  The revelation comes as Californians deal with an alarming rise in incidents. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock The revelation comes as Californians deal with an alarming rise in incidents. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock

Two days before that, a wayward Waymo in “manual driving mode” — meaning a Waymo autonomous specialist was behind the wheel — wildly crashed into several parked cars while careening downhill in Echo Park, narrowly missing two bystanders.

Some have expressed their frustrations at safety in neighborhoods as safety concerns and skepticism loom over the ‘drivers’ of the future.

In one incident in December, a Waymo snarled traffic for 45 minutes at the popular Venice Canals Boat Parade Los Angeles — after it glitched out and stalled on a bridge.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy