Waymo Robotaxi Review: Emergency Vehicle & Traffic Handling

Introduction

One of the most exciting ways to explore San Francisco is to sightsee in a Waymo self-driving taxi and experience cutting-edge autonomy first-hand.

In this ride we travel from the heart of downtown to the Outer Sunset neighborhood on the south side of Golden Gate Park, while pointing out can’t-miss spots such as Pier 39, Alcatraz Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

You can experience the trip virtually in the video below—give it a watch!

Must-See Stops: Pier 39 & Alcatraz Island

Pier 39 is one of San Francisco’s signature attractions—a lively waterfront packed with shops, restaurants, and street performers.

It also sits just a short walk from the Alcatraz ferry terminal at Pier 33, making it a perfect base for sightseeing.

Alcatraz Island, used as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963, is steeped in history.

Surrounded by cold, fast currents and guarded around the clock, it was considered “escape-proof.”

Even so, in 1962 Frank Morris and others famously dug through their cell walls with spoons and a modified vacuum motor and set off on hand-made rafts in a bold bid for freedom.

Back at Pier 39 you’ll find a Ferris wheel, seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and that unmistakable California vibe.

From the pier’s edge you can snap postcard-worthy photos that frame both the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island—an ideal spot for shutterbugs.

Waymo’s Autonomous-Driving Tech at a Glance

Waymo began as Google’s self-driving initiative in 2009 and hit a major milestone in 2015 when it completed the world’s first fully driver-less run on public roads.

Today the fleet is built around the Jaguar I-PACE luxury electric SUV, yet Waymo’s very first prototype—nicknamed “Firefly”—was even more radical, sporting no pedal or steering wheel at all and relying solely on software and sensors to navigate.

The core of Waymo’s perception stack is the roof-mounted LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) unit.

By firing laser pulses and reading the reflections, LiDAR builds a precise 3-D map of everything around the car—crucial for spotting obstacles and lane markings even in fog, rain, or darkness.

The latest sixth-generation platform pares the hardware down to just 13 cameras, 4 LiDARs, and 6 radars—fewer sensors, lower cost, better performance.

An array of External Audio Receivers (EARs) also picks up sirens and other critical sounds, letting the system yield to emergency vehicles well before they appear in view.

First-Hand Waymo Ride Experience

Response to Emergency Vehicles

Partway through our ride we heard the wail of a siren approaching from behind, and Waymo’s reaction was flawless.

California law requires drivers to pull as far to the right as possible and stop whenever an emergency vehicle comes up with lights and siren.

The car detected the sound, glided to the right-hand curb, and came to a safe halt— all in one smooth, confident motion.

This performance showcases Waymo’s advanced audio-detection system, which lets the vehicle respond to sirens before they are even visible, adding another layer of safety to its already impressive sensor suite.

Handling Congestion and Lane Changes

We hit a pocket of traffic near Golden Gate Park, but Waymo handled the jam as smoothly as any seasoned human driver.

Merging in stop-and-go conditions is notoriously tricky; the car signaled at just the right moment, waited for a courteous gap, and then eased into the adjacent lane without the slightest jerk or hesitation.

Throughout the ride Waymo never felt “robotic.”

Acceleration and braking were gentle, steering inputs fluid—altogether the kind of considerate driving you’d expect from a veteran behind the wheel, not a computer.

San Francisco’s Weather—and What It Means for Self-Driving Cars

One of San Francisco’s most famous quirks is the dense coastal fog that rolls in, especially on summer mornings and evenings.

Locals are so fond of it they’ve even given the fog a name—“Karl.”

Since the early 2010s “Karl the Fog” has had a lively following on social media, posting tongue-in-cheek weather updates to millions of fans.

Fog can pose a serious challenge for autonomous vehicles by obscuring cameras and other sensors, but Waymo’s high-resolution LiDAR literally cuts through the haze.

Its laser pulses pass between tiny water droplets, allowing the system to keep measuring distance and shape with pinpoint accuracy.

Pair that LiDAR with long-range radar and a 360-degree camera array, and you get a multi-sensor “safety net” that maintains reliable perception—rain or shine, clear or Karl.

Waymo’s Global Expansion & Latest News

Tokyo Pilot Program Announced

In December 2024 Waymo unveiled a partnership with Japan Taxi (Nihon Kotsu) and the ride-hailing app GO to speed the rollout of autonomous taxis in Tokyo.

Phase 1, scheduled for 2025, will place Nihon Kotsu drivers behind the wheel of Waymo vehicles so the system can gather real-world data and adapt to left-side traffic in one of the planet’s most densely populated cities.

The pilot will cover key central wards—Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō—laying the groundwork for fully driver-less service once mapping, safety, and regulatory milestones are met.

Expansion to New Markets

Waymo’s roadmap goes well beyond Tokyo.

The company has also confirmed a move into Miami: driver-less trials using the same Jaguar I-PACE fleet will begin in early 2025, with public rides via the Waymo app targeted for 2026.

Heavy subtropical rain in South Florida offers an ideal stress-test that is already sharpening Waymo’s wet-weather performance.

To date Waymo has completed more than 5 million fully autonomous rides across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles—remarkably, 4 million of those trips occurred in 2024 alone, underscoring how fast the service is scaling.

Recommended Sights: Golden Gate Bridge & Grandview Park

No visit to San Francisco is complete without the Golden Gate Bridge.

Waymo cars can’t cross the span yet, but you can drive, hop a tour bus, cycle, or simply walk it. We recommend the city-facing sidewalk—the views are spectacular and well worth the trek.

For a lesser-known lookout, climb the long stairway to Grandview Park in the Outer Sunset.

The summit offers sweeping, crowd-free panoramas of the city and the Pacific—perfect if you’d like a quiet spot to soak in the scenery.

Waymo: Benefits & Things to Watch Out For

The biggest selling points of using Waymo for sightseeing in San Francisco are its top-notch safety record and overall comfort.

The cabin feels spacious, the seats are plush, and mellow music plays in the background, so you can actually relax while you ride.

In a city famous for steep hills, it also spares you a lot of uphill walking.

On busy days or during peak hours, your car may take longer to arrive, and service is still geo-fenced, meaning only certain neighborhoods are covered.

For now, iconic spots like the Golden Gate Bridge remain outside the operational zone, so double-check the map when planning your itinerary.

Key Takeaways

Touring San Francisco in a Waymo self-driving taxi is a fantastic way to experience the city while getting hands-on with cutting-edge tech.

You’ll enjoy smooth, safe driving, a roomy cabin, and—best of all—a sneak peek at the future of transportation.

Waymo is expected to roll out to more cities worldwide—including Tokyo—in the years ahead.

If you’re heading to San Francisco or Los Angeles, be sure to give it a try.

You’ll be amazed by how convenient an autonomous taxi can be and how its safety easily rivals that of skilled human drivers.

This article is based on rides taken in 2024. Waymo’s coverage areas and feature set may change without notice, and rollout schedules for new markets—such as Tokyo or Miami—are subject to revision.