A toddler fell in an S.F. crosswalk. Then her dad saw a Waymo coming
2026-09-01
San Francisco Chronicle
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Waymo's autonomous vehicles are expanding into new markets, including Munich and Washington, D.C., prompting regulatory scrutiny and public concern. In San Francisco, a Waymo robotaxi narrowly avoided hitting a toddler in a crosswalk, highlighting potential safety hazards of AI-driven vehicles despite no injuries occurring.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The presence of an AI system (Waymo's autonomous vehicle) is explicit. The event stems from the AI system's use in real-world operation. Although no injury or damage occurred, the incident involved a near-collision scenario with a vulnerable pedestrian (a toddler), causing distress and prompting official reports. The AI system's behavior (approaching the intersection while the child was in the crosswalk) plausibly could lead to harm in future similar events. Since no actual harm occurred, it does not meet the threshold for an AI Incident but fits the definition of an AI Hazard due to the credible risk demonstrated.[AI generated]