Driverless Waymo Pulled Over by Phoenix Police Caught on Video

A viral video out of Phoenix, Arizona shows police pulling over a fully autonomous Waymo vehicle—with no one in the driver’s seat. The incident, captured by a nearby motorist, has sparked a wave of concern over how driverless cars behave in high-pressure, real-world scenarios such as police stops, detours, and construction zones.

What Happened

In the video:

• A Waymo car entered a construction zone and briefly drove into oncoming traffic.

• Phoenix police activated their lights to intervene.

• The car did not initially respond or pull over properly.

• Eventually, it stopped—though with no human driver to engage, police appeared unsure how to handle the situation.

The Waymo vehicle reportedly attempted to "correct" its position mid-stop, further complicating the traffic stop.

Waymo’s Statement

Waymo acknowledged the event, stating that the vehicle experienced a "challenging situation" due to unexpected road signage and lane shifts. The company said it is analyzing the incident and working to refine its AI response to emergency vehicles and construction reroutes.

Rising AV Incidents: The Bigger Picture

This isn’t an isolated case. Incidents involving Waymo and other autonomous vehicle operators are being documented with increasing frequency—especially in cities that have allowed full driverless operation.

Notable Statistics:

• San Francisco emergency services reported 55 AV-related disruptions in just six months of 2023, including blocked fire trucks and ambulances.

• In Phoenix, at least 12 driverless vehicle incidents were reported to local authorities between 2022 and 2024, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

• A Consumer Reports survey from late 2024 found that 63% of Americans are “not confident” in current AV safety standards.

• Over 500 formal complaints about AV behavior were filed with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) in 2023 alone.

Other Cities Seeing AV Safety Concerns

San Francisco, CA

• Waymo and Cruise vehicles have stalled in intersections, blocked emergency responders, and confused school zones.

• In one incident, multiple AVs surrounded an active fire scene, preventing a hose from being connected.

Austin, TX

• Waymo vehicles were documented blocking lanes during peak traffic.

• Complaints also cited robotaxis stopping in mid-turn due to confused traffic light signals.

Los Angeles, CA

• Several neighborhoods have reported AVs double-parking, idling in bike lanes, and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

The Legal and Safety Implications

These incidents raise difficult questions:

• Who’s liable when there’s no driver?

• How can law enforcement interact with vehicles that can’t respond verbally?

• Are current state regulations and oversight strong enough to keep pace with technology?

As AV testing expands, so does the gap between technology and accountability.

Final Thoughts

The Phoenix video is more than just viral content—it’s a wake-up call. While Waymo and others promise improvements, incidents like this show that real-world driving still presents too many edge cases for AVs to handle with full confidence.

Until comprehensive oversight, public trust, and technical reliability are in sync, driverless cars remain a high-tech experiment with very real-world consequences.

Top Self-Driving Car Companies: Major Differences & Deployment

Leading Self-Driving Car Companies and Their Deployment Strategies

The advent of autonomous driving cars marks a significant shift in the automotive industry, with several companies spearheading this technological revolution. Each company has developed distinct approaches and technologies, tailored to their vision of the future of autonomous driving. This article delves into some of the top self-driving car companies and explores where and how they are deploying their technologies.

How to Disable a Self-Driving Cars with Traffic Cones

Innovative or Malicious? SF Group Targets Self-Driving Cars with Traffic Cones

Why a Waymo Might Not Recognize a Green Light

Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company, has made significant strides in developing self-driving cars capable of navigating complex urban environments. These vehicles rely on a sophisticated array of sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms to interpret and respond to their surroundings. However, there are instances where a Waymo might fail to recognize a green light. Several factors could contribute to this issue, ranging from technical limitations to environmental challenges. 

Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Involved in Incident with Cyclist in San Francisco

Waymo, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, has made significant strides in developing and deploying its driverless taxi service. As the company expands its fleet and operations, understanding the safety performance and accident rates of Waymo’s autonomous taxis becomes increasingly important. This evaluation is crucial for assessing the readiness and reliability of autonomous vehicles in everyday urban settings. 

Driving Towards Safety: Emerging Trends in Automotive Safety Technology

In an era where road safety is a top priority, automotive manufacturers are continuously innovating to enhance vehicle safety through cutting-edge technology. From advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, let's explore the latest trends shaping the landscape of automotive safety.

Where Do Self-Driving Cars Struggle? Top Challenges and Progress

Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles, have been the subject of immense technological advancements in recent years. With the promise of safer and more efficient transportation, self-driving cars have captured the world's attention. However, as with any emerging technology, they face several challenges and limitations. In this article, we will explore the areas where self-driving cars struggle, shedding light on the ongoing efforts to overcome these obstacles.

How Do Self-Driving Cars Use Sensors and Mapping To Prevent Accidents

Self-driving cars use advanced sensors and automated mapping technologies to prevent accidents by constantly monitoring their surroundings, making real-time decisions, and responding to potential hazards. These technologies work together to create a comprehensive picture of the car's environment and enable the vehicle to navigate safely and avoid collisions. Here's how they work:

New Software Uses AI to Identify the Most Hazardous City Intersections

City traffic intersections can be challenging and dangerous for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Identifying high-risk intersections is crucial for improving road safety and reducing accidents. In a groundbreaking development, new software leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way cities pinpoint their most hazardous intersections. By analyzing vast amounts of traffic data, this cutting-edge technology is helping authorities take proactive measures to enhance road safety and save lives.

What Companies Does Waymo Work With and Where?

Google's Waymo Car

Where Are Driverless Uber Cars Being Used?

Uber's self-driving cars are currently available for ride-hailing in Las Vegas. They plan to expand to Los Angeles at a later date.

Tesla Autopilot Would Avoid 90% of Car Accidents

Tesla has made statements suggesting that their Autopilot system, an advanced driver-assistance feature, has the potential to improve overall vehicle safety and reduce the risk of accidents. However, it is important to approach such claims with caution and consider several factors:

Limitations of Autopilot: Tesla's Autopilot is designed to assist drivers with certain driving tasks but is not a fully autonomous system. It still requires driver attention and supervision. The system has limitations and may not be able to handle all driving scenarios or unexpected events.

Variability in Accident Scenarios: Car accidents can occur due to various factors, including the actions of other drivers, pedestrians, adverse weather conditions, and mechanical failures. While Autopilot may help prevent certain types of accidents, it may not be effective in all possible scenarios.

Reliability and Validation: The claim that Autopilot could avoid 90% of car accidents would need to be supported by comprehensive and independent studies analyzing real-world data. It is important to examine the methodology and evidence behind such claims.

Reporting Bias: It is worth considering the possibility of reporting bias, as accidents involving Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot might receive more media attention, leading to a potential overemphasis on those incidents.

Assessing the safety impact of any advanced driver-assistance system like Tesla's Autopilot requires extensive research, analysis of real-world data, and independent evaluation. It is always crucial for drivers to remain vigilant, follow traffic laws, and be prepared to take control of the vehicle at all times, even when using driver-assistance systems.

To stay informed about the latest developments and safety information regarding Tesla's Autopilot system, it is recommended to refer to official statements from Tesla, follow updates from regulatory authorities, and consult reliable sources of automotive news and analysis.

No One Driving Tesla in Fatal Crash - Map of Location in Texas

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) -- Two people died in a fiery crash involving a 2019 Tesla Model S and its autopilot functionality while taking it for a test drive on Saturday night, according to authorities.

Constable Mark Herman said one person was found in the front passenger seat and another in the back seat. Both died in the fire.

The flames reportedly took hours to extinguish, and Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the investigation has led them to believe that there was no one driving the car when the crash occurred.

The crash happened just after 9 p.m. on Hammock Dunes Place in the Carlton Woods Creekside subdivision. The victims were said to have been two men who were 59 and 69 years old, however police have not released their names yet.

Firefighters and medics were called to the scene after reports of an explosion in the woods after the Tesla ran off the road, authorities said.

The Tesla was traveling from a cul-de-sac on Hammock Dunes Place and did not negotiate a curve. The vehicle crashed into a tree before bursting into flames.  

Constable Herman said the 2019 Tesla Model S was traveling on a roadway and at some point, the vehicle, which deputies said was traveling at a high rate of speed, came to a slight curve. Deputies say the car went off the roadway, crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

Crews found two bodies inside the vehicle, a man in the front passenger seat and another man in the back passenger seat.

The batteries on board the Tesla continued to ignite despite efforts to douse the flames, authorities said. It reportedly took around four hours and more than 30,000 gallons of water before firefighters decided to let the fire burn itself out.

KPRC 2 reporter Deven Clarke spoke to one man’s brother-in-law who said he was taking the car out for a spin with his best friend, so there were just two in the vehicle. The owner, he said, backed out of the driveway, and then may have hopped in the back seat only to crash a few hundred yards down the road. He said the owner was found in the back seat upright.

Read local news reports. 

Read the comments on Reddit for possible reasons.

No One Driving Tesla in Fatal Crash - Map of Location in Texas from r/SelfDrivingCars

Assessing the Safety of Autopilot Vehicle Technology

Representing the midway point between traditional human-operated vehicles and self-driving cars of the future, autopilot capabilities like those featured in Tesla vehicles are marketed as a safer and more convenient way to drive. Is that the truth, or a self-serving sales pitch? 

To answer that question, let’s start by drawing comparisons to autopilot systems commonly found in modern-day aircraft. Autopilot has been a standard piece of aviation technology for decades. That’s because these systems make air travel safer and more convenient for pilots and passengers. 

Despite these safety advantages, autopilot is never used during take-off or landing. The same basic principle applies to similar technology featured in modern-day automobiles. For example, Tesla Autopilot isn’t meant to navigate the tight spaces and loosely regulated traffic of Tesla charging stations in downtown Los Angeles. However, it can be safely engaged when the vehicle is on the open and unobstructed interstate. 

The takeaway from this comparison is that, despite their limitations, autopilot systems provide added safety and convenience. Users must be able to harness this technology responsibly and resist the urge to abuse it or take it for granted. 

But what about news reports of fatal crashes and collisions involving vehicles with their autonomous driving features engaged? Doesn’t that prove they aren’t as safe as the automakers claim they are? No, it doesn’t. In fact, it highlights how safe these systems truly are.

 Consider the last time you read a news story about a vehicle fatality involving standard human-operated cars. It only makes the news when the circumstances are especially tragic or otherwise remarkable, yet fatal car accidents happen in our cities and towns every single day. It’s too common to be considered newsworthy. 

On the flipside, fatal car crashes involving advanced autopilot features are newsworthy because the technology generates questions and controversy. Just because we hear about a deadly incident involving autopilot doesn’t mean it’s a common occurrence. It’s certainly not as common as “traditional” motor vehicle accidents. 

The limitations and potential dangers of autopilot and autonomous driving feature ultimately highlight how, as mentioned earlier, the technology is a placeholder in the grand scheme of things. Ten years from now, driverless cars will reign supreme. When that happens, the safety of autopilot will get eclipsed by the improved safety brought about through completely autonomous vehicles. 

Think of autonomous driving capabilities as the iPod of advanced vehicle technology. Remember those things? They changed our lives for about five years, then the iPhone came along and with it the age of the smartphone. Nobody has an iPod anymore, even though we all did once.

The same fate - more or less - awaits the autopilot technology featured in Tesla vehicles and those made by several other automakers. Today it represents the pinnacle of consumer-accessible automobiles, but those days are numbered. 

Are you thinking about buying a vehicle with autonomous driving technology built-in? If so, it’s imperative to remember the limitations of these systems. They offer a chance for motorists to traverse with reduced risk and enhanced convenience, but only when used correctly and responsibly.

700 Pedestrians Die Every Day Wordwide

We talk a great deal about how cars congest our cities and pollute the atmosphere. We talk less about how they keep killing and injuring people simply trying to get from A to B on two feet.

Lately, our auto industry conversation about road safety has been dominated by visions, sold by Silicon Valley, of vehicles that minimize or even eliminate the need for input from a fallible human driver. Every year, more cars come armed with “pedestrian detection and avoidance” systems; soon, these systems will likely be standard issue. And not long after that, we are promised, sensors and self-improving algorithms will take over the driving process altogether, eliminating human error from roads and ushering in a new golden age of safety for all their users, whether or not they’re cocooned by a car’s steel frame. Since 2017, General Motors, the US’s largest car manufacturer, has claimed that it is developing self-driving vehicles in the service of a “triple-zero” world: zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.

Car companies swear they are here to help – by selling us products that hardly ever hit anyone or anything. But the truth is that this promise is, at best, a distraction. In fact, much of our discourse around cars, self-driving or otherwise, is less about transforming the status quo than maintaining it, obscuring paths to progress exactly when we need them most, and leaving pedestrians right in the line of fire.

Ask a room full of road safety experts what is causing pedestrian fatalities to increase and most will admit that, well, they are not exactly sure. Every time a car hits a pedestrian, it represents the intersection of a vast number of variables. At the level of those involved, there is the question of who is distracted, reckless, drunk. Zooming out, there are factors such as the design and condition of the road, the quality (or absence) of a marked pedestrian crossing, the speed limit, the local lighting, the weight and height of the car involved. In a crash, all these variables and more converge at high speed in real-world, non-laboratory conditions that make it hard to isolate the influence of each variable.

Ask that same room of road safety experts a slightly different question – not exactly why US pedestrians fatalities have risen lately, but instead why the US has more of them than any other wealthy country – and the answers will come flooding out. In recent months, after conversations with more than a dozen such experts, I became familiar with a particular tone of voice: deep frustration at how obvious it all is, but wrapped in a package of professional cheeriness. 

Here is what the frustrated safety experts will tell you: Americans are driving more than ever, more than residents of any other country. More of them than ever are living in cities and out in urban sprawl; a growing number of pedestrian fatalities occur on the fringes of cities, where high-volume, high-speed roads exist in close proximity to the places where people live, work, and shop.

Speed limits have increased across the country over the past 20 years, despite robust evidence that even slight increases in speed dramatically increase the likelihood of killing pedestrians (car passengers, too – but the increase is not as steep, thanks to improvements in the design of car frames, airbags and seatbelts). American road engineers tend to assume people will speed, and so design roads to accommodate speeding; this, in turn, facilitates more speeding, which soon enough makes higher speed limits feel reasonable. And more Americans than ever are zipping around in SUVs and pickup trucks, which, thanks to their height, weight and shape are between two and three times more likely to kill people they hit.

More fundamentally, the US is the country in the world most shaped, physically and culturally, by the presumption that the uninterrupted flow of car traffic is an obvious public good, one that deserves to trump all others in the road planning process. Many of its younger cities are designed almost entirely around planning paradigms in which pedestrians were either ignored or factored only as nuisances. 

There is no greater symptom of this worldview than the recurring focus on mobile phones, especially smartphones and their tendency to monopolise our limited attention. Road signs warning against phone use while driving are so commonplace that they almost blend into the landscape. Parents make their kids promise they won’t use their phones while driving. Kids nod and promise they won’t. Phone-tracking studies indicate that most of them do it anyway and that their parents do, too.

In recent years, America’s fear of the distracted driver expanded to include the distracted walker. This is a replay of an old phenomenon: it was the US that invented the concept of the “jaywalker”, a “jay” being an unsophisticated person from the country who did not even know how to walk correctly. In the US, much like anywhere that cars have taken hold, drivers screaming at pedestrians (and cyclists) that they are doing it wrong is a fixture of national life. More recently, numerous states and cities, including San Francisco and New York, have launched public campaigns against inattentive walking, as has the US National Safety Council. Some jurisdictions have passed, or sought to pass, bills that would make using a smartphone while crossing the road an offence punishable by fine. On Twitter, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has weighed in on the pedestrian safety crisis primarily by coaching pedestrians on how to protect themselves. “When you are walking, be predictable”, advises @NHTSAgov.

Safety experts are not terribly excited about pedestrian avoidance technology. It wasn’t that they doubted it might save some pedestrian lives. Instead, their recurring concern was that it reflects an ongoing focus on individual shortcomings – on flawed drivers and walkers – and a neglect of flaws built in to the roads they are forced to use.

“Pedestrian detection will probably help a bit,” says Dan Albert, author of Are We There Yet?, a history of American car culture. “But at the same time, it’s pretty clear that these problems can be addressed without hi-tech solutions. And so what are the car companies up to? It’s not just about some altruistic desire for safety, or they would be including these systems on all of their cars, which very few companies are doing. It’s more about creating a range of products that allows them to maximise profit.”

Of course, people can learn to understand new tools. More troubling is the fact that very little robust evidence has been available as to pedestrian avoidance systems’ real-world benefits. The organisations rating these systems do so based on tests conducted in laboratories and on test tracks, but it has not yet been reliably established how well these tests predict performance on actual roads, with real live pedestrians instead of crash test dummies (not to mention variable light and rain conditions).

The self-driving car “space” is flooded in loose cash. This is why pedestrian avoidance systems are becoming ubiquitous. Investment dollars have both improved the required parts and programmes and pushed down their cost. Otherwise, they would not be affordable enough to sell to any but the richest car-buyers. Meanwhile, the race continues. The tech companies keep saying they are almost there (they know they said they were almost there before, but this time is different, they promise). Almost every major car company has partnered with a lab developing self-driving car technology, either because they think it might become a requirement to stay in business, or because enough of their shareholders think so that they need to make a show of playing along.

One night in March 2018, a 49-year-old woman named Elaine Herzberg was pushing a bicycle laden with grocery bags across a four-lane road in Tempe, Arizona when she was struck and killed by a Volvo X90 operating under the control of Uber’s self-driving software. As is standard practice, a backup safety driver, employed by Uber, was sitting in the car, the idea being that she would take over in the case of error. 1.3 seconds before impact, Uber’s software calculated that emergency braking was called for. According to Uber, self-braking had been turned off to reduce jerky and unpredictable behaviour. With less than a second to go, the safety driver tried––and failed––to swerve away. (The post-crash investigation indicated that she had probably been watching the singing contest The Voice on her phone.) News outlets around the world covered Herzberg’s death in obsessive detail, asking whether it indicated that autonomous vehicles were less “ready” than we had been led to believe.

But, just as the original quest for autonomous vehicles had nothing to do with pedestrian safety, concern over Herzberg’s death often felt curiously divorced from concern for pedestrians in general. Herzberg was killed in March 2018. Between January and June of that year, 124 pedestrians were killed in Arizona, more than all but four other states in absolute terms, and more than all but one on a per capita basis. It goes without saying that none of these pedestrians’ names are known around the world, or that any of them generated a slurry of commentary about whether the American transportation environment is “safe enough” or “as safe as it should be”.

In the US, meanwhile, it remains the case that pedestrian advocates have failed to engineer the cultural process that transforms a scattered mass of dead and injured bodies into a widely recognized problem. They have not come close. When two Boeing 737s went down, killing 346 people, it triggered multiple government investigations. Crash reconstruction and analysis experts showed up. Corporate spokespeople apologized, began handing out checks to victims’ families and swore to do better. Journalists searched for explanations. But cars kill a 737’s worth of American pedestrians every couple of weeks. Internationally, it is more than three 737s per day. And the news cycle barely stutters.

In 2017, for the first time, each US state was required to submit road fatality reduction targets to the federal government. Most states set extremely limited goals: Wisconsin, for example, aimed to have 342 pedestrian fatalities, instead of 361. Several set a rather fatalistic goal of no reduction at all. Eighteen states went a step further, setting as their target an increase in their pedestrian death count. It is not that they want more pedestrians to die. But they know that people are likely to be driving more, they know what their roads are like and they know the laws of physics. Unlike the unending stream of hype coming from the autonomous car sector, these dour projections received no coverage outside of traffic reform circles. Unfortunately, they are more likely to contain the truth.

Read the full article here. 

Tesla Autopilot Gets Confused by Lanes Not Clearly Marked

Another Tesla Driver On Autopilot Nearly Crashes Trying To Recreate Fatal Crash

When the video is slowed down, you can see parts of the white lanes are faded and the car seems to think the left side of the lane — is the right. Fred Barez is a professor of mechanical engineering at San Jose State University. He said, “The lanes are not marked clearly on the road, so the camera attached to the Tesla vehicle is having a difficult time.” Barez is building his own autonomous vehicles with students. He says lanes that aren’t clearly visible can be a challenge for Tesla’s autopilot feature. Barez said, “Tesla believes in having eight cameras all around the vehicle and they monitor the presence of the lanes on the road.”

Site of Tesla Autopilot Fatality on 101

Tesla Autopilot Lane Confusion on 101

On its website, Tesla says it’s now also using a dozen updated ultrasonic sensors “allowing for detection of objects at nearly twice the distance of the prior system.” The company also advises its customers to keep their hands on the wheels, and to pay attention. Barez said, “I believe the Tesla is still pretty safe. It’s just a matter of the driver having to take responsibility as well.” The driver in the deadly crash, according to Tesla, did not take control of the wheel despite warnings. In his video Joshi grabs the wheel seconds before his Tesla would’ve slammed into the median: A couple years ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told reporters that California needed better lane markings, because it was confusing his cars’ autopilot feature. Tesla did not immediately respond to KPIX 5’s request for comment on Joshi’s video.

Map of Tesla Autopilot Fatality on 101 in Mountain View, CA

BadIntersections.com has started mapping autopilot accidents and locations where drivers feel that Uber and Tesla did not make a good driving decision.  We are calling these locations "Autopilot Issues" on the map.  Hopefully, autonomous vehicle companies will start using this historic data to help improve safety for future drivers at these locations.  Do a search for "autopilot" in the title and you will find the data.  

Disabled Drivers, Adapted Vehicles and Road Safety

Amazing developments in design and technology has enabled manufacturers to develop automobiles that can be driven by motorists suffering from disabilities. Many of these developments involve making the operating of the car much easier by changing how it is controlled - this could include replacing the steering wheel with a joystick, or replacing the pedals with hand controls. In 2016,  there were an estimated 1.9 million disabled drivers in the UK, which made up approximately 6% of licensed drivers.

Are these Vehicles Dangerous?

Some may think that changing the way in which a car operates will make it dangerous to drive. This is not the case, however, as a study revealed that disabled drivers were not found to have a collision involvement that was different from the total population. The reasoning for this is that any motorist, able-bodied or not, must pass a test where they drive to a required standard. Although a disabled motorist may operate the automobile differently, they must still drive to the required standard.

Disabled motorists will learn in an adapted automobile and from a tutor that specialises in teaching disabled drivers - this ensures that they are able to operate an adapted automobile to the same standard that an able-bodied motorist can operate a standard vehicle. The only difference will be that the disabled driver’s license will show that they are only licensed to drive an adapted vehicle and it will state what kind of adapted automobile. Therefore, they will legally only be able to operate the type of vehicle that they passed their test in and, consequently, disabled motorists are just as safe as other users on the road.

The Major Reasons for Collisions

So, what are the major reasons for collisions? Studies show that failure to look is the most commonly reported factor, whilst loss of control is the most frequently reported factor in fatal accidents. Unsurprisingly, driving whilst over the limit and users distracted on their smartphones remain very prevalent issues that lead to many collisions. In terms of the type of motorist that is found to be involved in the majority of collisions, young males remain the most dangerous group.

The adaptations that have been made to automobiles to enable disabled individuals to get behind the wheel are superb, with companies like Allied Mobility leading the way. Due to the fact that these motorists learned in one of these vehicles and passed their test ensures that they are just as safe as other road users, whilst the main reasons for collisions remain the same.

Watch Engadget Car Tech Talk at Live at CES 2017

.@engadget Watch on #Periscope Car tech at CES: the good, bad and ugly https://t.co/wOnbeVSekP

— jeffcohn (@jeffcohn) January 5, 2017

Here is a summary of the CES 2017 panel video below.

Both Honda Nuvis and Concept-I Toyota cars have artificial intelligence (AI) that measures your mood.  They say its your friend or assistant to help you understand what you might need.  A new route home or even some mood music.

Faraday Future also has a mood feature in the car as well.  However, there are rumors that the company is in financial difficulty not paying bills and executives leaving.

Cars will now have multiple modems in the car to use multiple wireless carriers when coverage stinks.  

Hyundai is testing an autonomous car at CES and the one of the people on stage had a close call with a truck on the road.  

10 Ways To Get Respect From Drivers While Riding Your Bike

Why has riding a bike in most cities across the World now become hazardous to your health and you could easily be risking your life and injury.   I have been riding my bike for the last 25+ years to commute around the Hermosa Beach & Manhattan Beach area.  I used to ride my bike for exercise on the streets training for triathlons but ever since I had kids I have stopped.  It is just too risky now and over the years I have seen many injuries and accidents because some drivers don't respect bikers.

It concerns me that driving has become even more hazardous with texting and distracted driving.  However, one thing that has progressed is road rage, especially in the morning.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen angry drivers pass bikers too close.  Why don't more drivers respect the space of bikers on the road?  Don't more drivers realize that kids are riding their bikes to school and need to slow down?  Over the years I have found the following things help to move cars and get more respect from cars while riding.  Passing too close is my biggest pet peeve and here are ways to help get more space.

• Ride with a group of 2 or more people.  Drivers tend to respect riders more in a group. 
• Have a quick look over your shoulder if you start to hear a car approaching. 
• Wear bright colors.  
• Do your best to hug the side of the road or parked cars. 
• Don't ride in the middle of a lane because you never know if a crazy driver is approaching.
• Don't run stop signs or lights. 
• Don't ride too fast down hills or in areas with heavy traffic.  Stopping safely is everything! 
• Always be on guard and never relax while riding. 
• Look inside parked vehicles to make sure a car is not about to pull out or open a car door.  
• NEVER wear headphones!  

I can't tell you how many times I have almost been hit by a car while riding my bike on the side of the road. Why don't more drivers give proper space to bikers on the road?   Most drivers are courteous and pull over a lane on the road or just ride the median to give ample space.   However, on some rides, there is usually that one "knucklehead" driver who does not respect your space and will pass you without pulling out.  These people know what they are doing because they often look in the rearview mirror to see my reaction.  We need to crowdsource a database of these assholes and their license plates!

I am not an overly aggressive rider and tend to hug the side of the road for just these reasons.  What can be done to solve these problems?  Education or steeper fines for not giving bikers ample space?  Here is a good article that talks about the 9 things that drivers need to stop saying in the bikes vs cars debate.

Here is another article that suggests that drivers think that cyclists are annoying.  Why do motorists get so angry at cyclists?    "It's not because cyclists are annoying,” he writes. “It isn't even because we have a selective memory for that one stand-out annoying cyclist over the hundreds of boring, non-annoying ones (although that probably is a factor). No, my theory is that motorists hate cyclists because they think they offend the moral order.”

I would like to see bike radar companies like Ridar take off in the future.  If every car has a bike presence sensor and cars were informed that a bike was nearby this could help.  It would be awesome to see companies like Waze have a function for bikers to let drivers know they are nearby.  However, it is going to take widespread adoption by the automakers.  Hopefully, companies like Garmin and Ridar can make this happen and bring the technology to the masses.  

Should The Apple Self Driving Car Tell You Where The Dangerous Intersections Are?

Apple Self Driving Car

Don't you think the Apple self driving car should know where the dangerous intersections are?  Waze already has a dangerous intersections warning on their app.  Google owns Waze and most certainly will integrate their dangerous intersection data into the driving experience of their self driving cars.