Waymo restricts some routes after viral video shows car had a near miss with Texas train

The video circulating on social media showed as the Waymo vehicle stopped inside the stop arm of the railroad crossing as the CapMetro train passed.

AUSTIN, Texas — Waymo is temporarily restricting some railroad crossing routes after a viral video showed one of its vehicles stopped inside the stop arm of a railroad crossing in Texas. 

The video circulating on social media was taken at a crossing on East Koenig Lane, just before Airport Boulevard. It shows the CapMetro train narrowly avoiding the Waymo as it moves through.

According to Waymo, the vehicle stopped as soon as the crossing light activated and came to a stop just over eight feet before the train tracks, after the crossing gate. Waymo said the car determined it was a safe distance from the tracks.

A spokesperson for Waymo provided the following statement:

“Waymo vehicles have safely traversed railroad crossings millions of times fully autonomously. In these instances, the vehicles performed a controlled stop more than 2.5 meters before the tracks, after the crossing lights activated as the vehicles approached the crossing.

“While the vehicles remained at a distance from the tracks, we recognize the concern caused by stopping past the crossing gate. We have temporarily restricted traversals at similar crossings while we review the event and refine our system’s response.”

The company said it was also reviewing a second instance of a Waymo vehicle stopping after the crossing gate.

In the second case, the vehicle also stopped over eight feet before the train tracks, Waymo said. It did not say when or where it happened.

Waymo said it has implemented temporary mitigation measures with strict parameters while it investigates further.

In a statement on Sunday, a CapMetro spokesperson said:

“We are aware of the video circulating depicting a Waymo vehicle at a CapMetro rail crossing. Our teams are currently reviewing the data and gathering information to complete a full assessment of the event. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”

The autonomous vehicles have come under scrutiny after one was filmed blocking an ambulance responding to the deadly mass shooting on West Sixth Street in Downtown Austin. An Austin police officer eventually was able to access the car and move it into the driveway of a parking garage.