Residents of Santa Monica, California, have been complaining and protesting the frequent noise-pollution from Waymo driverless cars.
Waymo, a driverless ride-hailing company, is working in multiple states across America. While the driverless electric cars with rotating sensors were initially viewed as a novelty, some residents have begun to complain that their charging lots generate near-constant noise.
“[T]o hear it from residents, the beeping never seems to stop, largely attributable to a state regulation requiring electric vehicles to audibly reverse like delivery trucks,” the LA Times reported. “They beep as they back out of charging spots, and beep as they reverse to navigate around one another. They beep within the morning as they head out to choose up early passengers, and beep late at night as they return to charge up.”
The California newspaper reported that local residents are fed up, to the purpose where some are outright protesting.
“City officials, a judge and even police have been forced to intercede after residents who say the self-driving cars are a nuisance have banded together against the local 56-vehicle fleet. They’ve reached out to town. They’ve called Waymo. Now, some try unconventional tactics,” the LA Times reported.
The report moreover added, “Using cones, cars and sometimes themselves, residents have taken to blocking the Waymos from entering their company-funded car parking zone, a lot in order that the corporate has called the cops on them a half dozen times.”
“I would like the noise stopped,” an area resident named Darius Boorn told the outlet. “I assumed it was cool, after which those freaking noises began. After which I assumed, ‘Oh no, this may’t be happening.’”
The LA Times reported that Waymo’s usage of local lots was a surprise to city officials as well, who only learned about them when residents began complaining.
“Their arrival in Santa Monica appears to have flown under the radar because they subleased the lot from one other company and capitalized on its existing charging infrastructure,” the report said.
A Waymo spokesperson told the LA Times that the corporate “will proceed to learn and improve how we introduce ourselves to recent communities once we arrive.”
While Waymo has made some efforts to cut back noise, including “limiting hours that staff members work on the lots, purchasing quieter vacuums to scrub the cars, and installing fast-growing bamboo stands to try to soak up a number of the noise,” locals are unsatisfied.
“C’mon, it’s lipstick on a pig, baby,” Boorn said.
Mayor pro-tem Caroline Torosis credited Waymo for its efforts to date, but noted the chief issue is each state and federal regulations.
“The problem here is that they’re sounds that the vehicles are required to make,” Torosis said. “I’m totally sympathetic to the quiet enjoyment of property, so we’re attempting to get this under control.”
As local officials work to contact state officials, Torosis added further, “We want to be certain that as we’ve a few of these recent business practices coming into town, while not stifling innovation, that we’re putting the needs of our residents here in front.”
A spokesperson for the corporate told Fox Business, “We try to be good neighbors within the cities that we operate, and are committed to being a positive presence in Santa Monica. We’re in ongoing conversation with the City’s Department of Transportation, and are actively working with the agency as we explore and implement mitigations that address neighbors’ concerns.”
