Dallas residents raise safety concerns as Waymo expands

As Waymo expands across Dallas, viral videos of traffic violations and neighborhood complaints are fueling new questions about safety.

Carol Bell-Walton says Waymo robotaxis are becoming a common sight in her East Dallas neighborhood.

"It seemed like months ago they started mapping the streets in East Dallas," she said.

Concerns grow as incidents increase

She said at first she didn't notice any issues, but now that's changed.

"I have seen about five incidents that have concerned me," she said.

She says she watched a Waymo fail to pull over for a firetruck, then keep driving at school-zone speeds, around 20 miles per hour, even though the school zone wasn't active.

She worries mistakes like that could have serious consequences.

"There's no do-overs if somebody gets badly hurt or worse," she said.

Videos online show similar issues

On social media, other Dallas residents say they've had similar concerns. One man posted a video that appears to show a Waymo vehicle running a red light at a Dallas intersection.

The timing is notable: this week, Waymo announced a voluntary recall after a software issue reportedly allowed some vehicles to drive into standing water.

Attorney Amy Witherite says the pattern is troubling.

"The cars get confused. That is the throughline. Dimmed traffic signals. Flooded roads. Fire trucks. Police hand signals. School bus stop arms. These are not exotic scenarios; they are any day of the week in Dallas," Witherite said. "I am not opposed to autonomous vehicles. The promise is real: safer roads, mobility for seniors, transportation for those who cannot drive. But we are not there yet, and the cost of getting there should not be borne by Dallas residents."

In a statement to CBS News Texas, Waymo said it has made several changes, "including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur."

Debate continues over readiness

"So the next day the experiment starts all over again - and are they road ready?" Bell-Walton said.

Still, supporters of Waymo argue that the technology is improving every day and that these vehicles make fewer mistakes than human drivers.

"I feel safe," one passenger told CBS News Texas.

Waymo has repeatedly said safety remains its top priority.