Nashville only had Waymo for five days before things got interesting.
Multiple drivers posted videos to TikTok and Instagram showing driverless Waymo vehicles stopped in intersections or holding up traffic across the city. Three separate incidents were captured in less than a week of the company's public launch here.
Where Did It Happen?
The first incident was reported April 9 around 1:30 p.m. on the 100 block of Demonbreun Street — right in the middle of one of Nashville's busiest tourist corridors.
A second video was filmed April 11 at 7:30 p.m. near the 800 block of 3rd Avenue South. A third happened at 9th Avenue South and Division Street.
All three were shared on TikTok and Instagram by nearby drivers and pedestrians who watched it unfold.
What Did Waymo Say?
FOX 17 News reached out to Waymo, and the company did respond — at least about two of the three incidents.
On Demonbreun, Waymo said the car got stuck after trying to navigate around a pedal tavern. It turned wide, stopped, then sensed a bus nearby and froze up. The car sat there for several minutes before moving on.
On 3rd Avenue South, Waymo said the vehicle paused because it was trying to make a tight turn. That one lasted about a minute.
Waymo confirmed no riders were in either car at the time.
FOX 17 was still waiting to hear back about the third incident at the time of reporting.
The company's official statement: “Safety is our top priority at Waymo, both for the people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets. We take reports like this seriously and are committed to improving road safety through our ongoing learnings and experiences.”
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Here's the thing about Nashville: it's a city where pedal taverns, party buses, and tour vehicles are a normal part of downtown traffic. Add in Broadway crowds spilling into the street, construction detours, and delivery trucks blocking lanes at all hours — and you've got a driving environment that would challenge anyone.
A driverless car that freezes up when it sees a pedal tavern is going to have a rough time on a Saturday night downtown.
Locals in the comments were quick to point out that a human driver who stopped in the middle of Demonbreun would get a ticket. Waymo vehicles aren't subject to the same rules — at least not yet.
What Can You Do If You See One?
The city of Nashville has set up a specific portal to report issues with autonomous vehicles. If you see a Waymo car blocking traffic or behaving strangely, you can file a report directly through that system.
Waymo launched in Nashville after months of operating in the city before going fully public. The company has also been running in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. But Nashville has its own personality on the road, and it sounds like the cars are still figuring that out.
Worth watching if you're spending time downtown.
Source: FOX 17 News Nashville
