Endless honking of Waymo’s driverless taxis wakes a neighbourhood

A driverless robotaxi from Waymo is parked on a street in San Francisco on May 16, 2024. In recent weeks, Waymo, a company that makes driverless cars, began sending their vehicles to a parking lot when the taxis are off the clock. But every night or early morning when the flock of vehicles typically return, according to neighbours, the chorus of honks begin. — The New York Times

It was a little over two weeks ago that Sophia Tung began waking up before dawn to the sound of cars honking.

The flocks of identical white vehicles outside her window began to fill the parking lot, one by one. As they moved into and out of one another’s paths, they sounded out a chorus of honks and beeps.