Waymo’s SF Rollout Faces Backlash After Cat Fatality

San Francisco has seen a rapid expansion of Waymo’s self-driving taxi service, gaining significant voter support and new operational zones. However, a recent tragic incident involving a beloved neighborhood cat named Kit Kat has sparked a wave of anger and rekindled the debate over the integration of autonomous vehicles into the city. This event has pushed the conversation from technological advancement to local accountability and community impact.

Kit Kat: The Unofficial Mayor of 16th Street

In the vibrant Mission District, Kit Kat, a friendly tabby, was more than just a cat; he was the “Mayor of 16th Street.” Known for bar-hopping and seeking chin rubs at Delirium, the bodega cat was cherished by punk rockers, long-time residents, and shop owners alike. His sudden death shortly before midnight on October 27th, run over by a Waymo self-driving taxi outside Delirium, left the community in mourning and ignited widespread consternation.

A City Divided: Robot Taxis Under Scrutiny

While hundreds of animals are tragically killed by human drivers in San Francisco annually, Kit Kat’s death by a robot taxi resonated differently. Memorials quickly appeared, social media flared, and the incident became a symbol for existing frustrations with autonomous vehicles.

The Outcry and Political Response

Local bartender Margarita Lara expressed widespread fear, stating, “I’m terrified of those things… They just released them out into our city, and it’s unnecessary.” Jackie Fielder, a progressive San Francisco supervisor representing the Mission District, has been a vocal critic. Following Kit Kat’s death, she introduced a resolution calling for the state Legislature to grant local voters control over driverless car operations. Fielder emphasized the lack of accountability with robot cars compared to human drivers, echoing concerns from labor unions like the Teamsters about job displacement.

Waymo’s Defense and Expansion

Prior to the incident, Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, was experiencing a surge in popularity, having fully rolled out its San Francisco taxi service in 2024 with a fleet of 1,000 vehicles. The company announced further expansion, including freeway service and airport pickups. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has defended Waymo, asserting their vehicles are “incredibly safe” and even “safer than you or I getting behind a wheel.”

Safety in Numbers: Human vs. Autonomous Driving

Waymo does not dispute that one of its vehicles killed Kit Kat, stating the cat “darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away” during a passenger pickup. The company extends sympathies and maintains its cars are significantly safer than those driven by humans, reporting 91% fewer serious crashes in a peer-reviewed research paper.

However, critics highlight the broader context of traffic safety in San Francisco, a walkable city where pedestrian peril remains high. The city pledged to end traffic fatalities by 2024, yet last year saw one of the highest totals on record.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Driverless Cars in SF

The debate in San Francisco encapsulates the ongoing tension between technological advancement and local community values. While some, like Darrell Smith, acknowledge “AI is the future. We can’t stop it whether we like it or not,” the question of local control and accountability for autonomous vehicles remains a contentious issue. The legacy of Kit Kat may well become a significant factor in how San Francisco residents and their representatives shape the regulatory landscape for driverless cars moving forward.

FAQs About Waymo and Kit Kat

• What exactly happened to Kit Kat?
  Kit Kat, a beloved community cat, was run over by a Waymo self-driving taxi shortly before midnight on October 27th outside Delirium bar in the Mission District. Waymo stated the cat “darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away.”
• How safe are Waymo self-driving cars?
  Waymo claims its cars are much safer than human-driven vehicles, reporting 91% fewer serious crashes compared to human drivers covering the same mileage. San Francisco’s Mayor Daniel Lurie has also publicly stated Waymo is “incredibly safe.”
• Can San Francisco residents decide if Waymo operates in their city?
  Currently, the state of California regulates autonomous vehicles. However, Supervisor Jackie Fielder introduced a resolution for the state Legislature to allow local voters to decide on the operation of driverless cars in their communities.
• Why did Kit Kat’s death spark such a strong reaction?
  Kit Kat was a well-known and loved community figure in the Mission District. His death by a robot taxi highlighted underlying frustrations among some residents about the rapid, uninvited expansion of autonomous vehicles and the perceived lack of accountability compared to human drivers.

The incident with Kit Kat serves as a powerful reminder that the rollout of new technologies, no matter how promising, must be carefully balanced with local concerns for safety, community well-being, and accountability.

Waymo SF rollout faces backlash after cat fatality