Human drivers keep rear-ending Waymos

Rear-end collision patterns

• Many commenters note that serious Waymo crashes are typically human drivers rear-ending the AV.
• Common scenario described: AV cautiously noses into a partially occluded intersection, then stops quickly when detecting cross traffic; tailgating human then hits it.
• Some suspect strict stopping at stop signs, yellows, and crosswalks (vs “rolling stops”) causes surprises, especially in California.
• It’s unclear from the thread whether Waymos are rear-ended more often than comparable human-driven cars.

Braking behavior, predictability, and fault

• Debate over whether “erratic” or conservative braking contributes: AVs may brake faster/earlier or in situations humans would ride through.
• One side: safest choice is always to brake for potential hazards; rear driver is at fault for not maintaining distance.
• Other side: you can legally be “not at fault” yet still contribute to crashes by being unpredictable or over-reactive.
• Ethical tradeoff raised: is it better to risk more low-speed rear-ends or fewer high-severity crashes with pedestrians/cross-traffic?
• Some argue AVs might not account enough for what’s behind them; others note humans also can’t realistically monitor all directions at once.

Human driver behavior and infrastructure

• Strong criticism of human habits: chronic tailgating, speeding, “California rolls,” and post-COVID aggressiveness.
• Discussion of how drivers build mental models of “normal” behavior; AVs break those expectations by strictly following law and conservative rules.
• Traffic engineering concepts appear (e.g., 85th percentile rule, speed variance) and how mismatched speed limits and design encourage rule-breaking.

Testing, regulation, and system design

• Some call public-road testing of heavy AVs “insane”; others counter that Waymo did years of low-speed and closed-course testing and is already safer than humans.
• Proposal for a uniform federal AV test across varied conditions, including sensor failures; skepticism that standardized tests can’t be gamed.
• Ideas for mitigating rear-ends: special AV lights (e.g., blue), advance brake-light warnings, automated tailgating detection and potential enforcement.

Social dynamics and user experiences

• Reports that some pedestrians and drivers “hate” Waymos, block them, or act aggressively around them; others enjoy driving near them because they’re predictable and non-aggressive.
• Several riders describe Waymo trips as feeling markedly safer and “futuristic,” though some note odd low-speed maneuvers and poor parking choices.