Multiple empty Waymo driverless cars were seen repeatedly driving around cul-de-sacs in a northwest Atlanta neighborhood over the past two weeks, prompting complaints from residents [1, 2].

Neighbors reported that about 50 Waymo vehicles passed through the area between 6 and 7 a.m. yesterday morning alone, intensifying worries about traffic and pedestrian safety [2]. One resident on Battleview Drive said, "It’s almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it’s a problem," while another added, "We’re families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning and it just doesn’t feel safe to have that traffic" [2].

Waymo traced the issue to a routing behavior glitch that caused its driverless cars to circle cul-de-sacs excessively [2]. The company acknowledged the glitch and said it has addressed the routing behavior following community feedback. A Waymo spokesperson said, "We take community feedback seriously and have already worked with our fleet partner to address this routing behavior. With over 500,000 weekly trips across the country, our service is proven to significantly reduce traffic injuries and improve road safety" [1, 2].

Waymo operates driverless vehicles in 11 U.S. cities including Atlanta [1, 2]. The routing error is the latest in a series of safety incidents involving the company's fleet. Earlier in January 2026, a Waymo vehicle in Santa Monica struck a student pedestrian but caused no injuries [2]. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated Waymo cars over allegations of illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas [2]. Additionally, Waymo recently recalled about 4,000 vehicles due to a separate glitch that caused failures to stop before entering standing water [2].

Residents in the affected Atlanta suburb reported that the high number of driverless cars squeezed neighborhood streets, leading to traffic backups and raising risks for children and pets [2].

Waymo stated it values its relationship with Atlanta residents and remains focused on providing a safe, respectful experience for riders and nearby communities [2]. The company’s efforts to resolve the routing glitch are ongoing as of May 30, 2026 [1, 2].