A recent incident in San Francisco has raised concerns about the safety of passengers in Waymo self-driving cars. A 28-year-old woman, who goes by Amina V., was riding in a Waymo robot taxi when two men approached and blocked the vehicle, allegedly to harass her.

The incident occurred when Amina's Waymo car was stopped at a red light. The men stood in front of the car, preventing it from moving, and repeatedly asked for her phone number. Despite Amina's requests for them to leave, the men refused, causing the car to remain stationary in the middle of a busy intersection.

Amina recorded the incident and posted it on X (formerly Twitter), warning other women to be aware of the potential risks. The video quickly went viral, sparking discussions about the safety and vulnerability of autonomous vehicles in urban environments.

Waymo, the company behind the self-driving technology, has responded to the incident. A spokesperson for Waymo, Julia Ilina, confirmed that the company contacted the rider to ensure her safety and well-being. The company also offered Amina at least one free ride as compensation.

Ilina emphasized that such incidents are "exceedingly rare" given the 100,000 trips Waymo operates weekly in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. She added that Waymo riders have 24/7 access to Rider Support agents who can help them navigate such situations in real time and coordinate with law enforcement if needed.

Amina, despite her unsettling experience, still plans to use Waymo vehicles. She suggested that the company should avoid certain neighborhoods, such as the Tenderloin or parts of SoMa, which have higher crime rates and homelessness.

This incident is not the first of its kind. Another video from last week showed a group of individuals vandalizing a Waymo autonomous vehicle, spray-painting it, and throwing objects at the windows. These events highlight the challenges autonomous vehicle companies face in ensuring the safety and security of their passengers in unpredictable urban environments.