As driverless cars roll into more American cities, the city with the longest public record of what goes wrong offers a preview. Between July 2023 and September 2026, the City of Austin logged more than 320 incidents involving driverless vehicles. Traffic safety advocate Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group, says that record shows the technology is not ready and is calling on regulators and autonomous vehicle manufacturers to demonstrate that these vehicles can safely handle real-world conditions.

“Cities across the country are being promised a safer way to get around,” said Amy Witherite, a nationally known traffic safety expert and advocate, and founder of the Witherite Law Group. “Three years of data from Austin show the gap between that promise and how these cars actually perform. Some of it is an annoyance. Some of it is dangerous. And too often, the fix the company announces isn’t a fix at all.”

Some problems are nuisances. Others are serious.

Austin classified 17% of incidents as nuisances: cars stalling, idling or getting confused. Many more were serious. Of all incidents Austin recorded:

  • 32% were safety concerns

  • 15% involved vehicles blocking traffic

  • 13% were near misses

  • 9% involved vehicles ignoring directions from Austin police officers

  • 8% were school bus stop-arm violations, and another 2% were other safety issues at schools

In March, a Waymo vehicle blocked an ambulance that was responding to a shooting in Austin, prompting City Council members to send the company a formal letter.

The problem is growing as fleets expand. Austin logged 54 incidents in the second half of 2023 and 21 in 2024. In 2025, that climbed to about 135, and Austin has recorded more than 110 so far in 2026.

When there’s no driver, police deal with a remote operator

When a driverless car blocks a crime scene or ignores an officer, no one is behind the wheel to talk to. Officers have to learn how the vehicles respond and whom to call. Waymo teaches first responders how to disable the autonomous driving, shut the car off, disconnect the battery and cut into the vehicle.

When a vehicle gets stuck or crashes, Waymo relies on a remote “event response team.” In some cases, officers or firefighters have had to move stranded robotaxis themselves. In February, a first responder in Atlanta had to disengage a Waymo that drove into an active crime scene.

“Every minute a police officer spends on the phone with a remote operator, or learning how to shut down a stalled robotaxi, is a minute they’re not protecting the public,” Witherite said. “Every city should ask who pays for that training and that time.”

Some cities are pushing back

A growing number of cities are questioning whether driverless cabs are ready for their streets. In September, San Diego’s City Council unanimously urged state leaders to give cities a say over robotaxis, including letting police and fire track, stop or move empty vehicles during emergencies. California law currently gives local governments no authority over autonomous vehicles. In Washington, D.C., commercial robotaxi service is still not legal, and a council bill that would allow it is facing growing opposition from labor unions, civil rights groups and churches. And on October 1, the Minneapolis City Council voted 7-6 to require a human in the driver’s seat, though the mayor has pledged a veto.

“This technology may someday deliver on its promise,” Witherite said. “It’s not there yet. Until it is, cities deserve full incident data, real accountability, and a seat at the table before these cars are on their streets, not after.”

Austin figures are from the City of Austin’s autonomous vehicle incident dashboard as of September 28, 2026. The city compiles the reports from city departments and 3-1-1 calls and does not validate them.

About Witherite Law Group

Amy Witherite is a traffic safety advocate and founder of Witherite Law Group, a personal injury law firm representing victims of motor vehicle and trucking accidents. Witherite has been a vocal advocate for autonomous vehicle safety standards and public accountability as AV fleets expand into new markets nationwide.

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