The saying, “I’ve been taken for a ride” took on a whole new meaning for a Los Angeles-area man recently when the robotaxi he hired to transport him to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) — known as the friendliest airport in America — wouldn’t stop to let him out at his destination. It’s the stuff of nightmares. Literally. Dreams about cars and transportation are among the most common experienced by humans. And dreams about being in a car that’s out of control, or a driverless car, are some of the most disconcerting twists on the subject, but Mike Johns was wide awake when he found himself held hostage by a driverless robotaxi.
In December 2024, Johns hired a ride via Waymo, the self-driving technology company previously known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project. When the car arrived at the drop-off, it just kept circling — over and over again. We’re not sure how many times the car went around before Johns realized something was amiss, but we do know he kept his wits about him, called Waymo customer service for assistance, and had the wherewithal to record the unexpected adventure.
In a video posted on LinkedIn, Johns can be seen calmly explaining the situation to a customer service representative who apologized profusely while attempting to remotely maneuver the vehicle into a parking space. Although Johns maintained his patience, and a sense of humor — at one point he asked the representative, “Has this been hacked? What’s going on? I feel like I’m in the movies” — he did make it clear that he expected to be compensated if he missed his flight because the vehicle wouldn’t stop. Although the video ends before the runaway car is corralled into a parking space, Waymo told The Guardian the unexpected (mis)adventure was resolved within a few minutes.
All’s well that ends well
