--- title: "Waymo Has Been Reprogramming Its Robotaxis to Drive More Aggressively" description: "Waymo has been experimenting with programming to make its typically-cautious robotaxis \"confidently assertive.\"" date: "2025-12-04" modified: "2025-12-04" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins" url: "https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymo-reprogram-robotaxis" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Self-Driving Vehicles" --- # Waymo Has Been Reprogramming Its Robotaxis to Drive More Aggressively ![Waymo has been experimenting with programming to make its typically-cautious robotaxis "confidently assertive."]() *Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Getty Images* Besides convenience, one of the main benefits of self-driving cars is supposed to be safety. Yet in a bizarre move, Waymo — whose self-driving cabs had been enjoying [extraordinary safety metrics]() — has just taken steps to make its robotaxis more human-like, eroding the safety narrative that's been central to the autonomous vehicle narrative. Recent [reporting by *The* *Wall Street Journal*]() observed a startling change in Waymos' road etiquette, a new aggressive streak that would make a [BMW driver]() blush. These include illegal U-turns, aggressive lane switching, rolling through cross walks, and running red lights. "It's driving more like a taxi driver — an aggressive, New York taxi driver," said Sophia Yen, who watched in awe as two Waymos zig-zagged between lanes in a high-speed game of chicken back in September. The new behavior is the result of an effort to make Waymos "confidently assertive," according to Chris Ludwick, senior director of product management with Waymo. In an interview with the *WSJ*, Ludwick said changes were needed to avoid disruptions caused by Waymo's previously cautious behavior. "The driver is designed to respect the rules of the road. However, sometimes this is a nuanced topic and road rules can even conflict with each other," he said. As an example, Ludwick pointed to delivery trucks stopped in a lane. Drivers aren't supposed to cross the double yellow line into the opposite lane, but when it's between that or obstructing traffic, humans know to carefully pass. Now Waymos do too. Of course, Waymo's newfound confidence comes with some drawbacks. Recently, the company made headlines in San Francisco after one of its vehicles [struck a dog]() laying in the middle of the road. That was just weeks after another Waymo killed a [well-known neighborhood cat](), sparking something of an [anti-Waymo campaign]() in San Francisco. Other incidents resulting from Waymo's new fearless streak abound, like when one of the vehicles strolled past a red light and into an [active police standoff]() earlier this week. As the *WSJ* notes, police in California can't issue a traffic citation to a driverless car. That's [about to change](), however — and not a moment too soon. **More on Waymo:** *[Waymo CEO Says Society Is Ready for One of Its Cars to Kill Someone]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()