An Atlanta-based content creator is going viral after sharing a tense—but ultimately safe—ride in a Waymo self-driving car. JoJo (@hollyhoodjojo) posted a TikTok of the ride, noting that while Waymo launched its public self-driving ride-hailing service in 2018, the cars still have some kinks to work out. "I think Waymo got some work to do still," JoJo captioned her clip. She explained what went wrong: the Waymo drove through an area that had flooded. "This area flooded, and my car is driving in the middle of it," the person in the clip said. "What the [expletive]." The water outside the window was almost high enough to reach the car window itself. What Happened To the Waymo Rider? Despite the unnerving detour, she says she arrived safely at her destination. "Ya know, didn’t expect my Waymo to drive into a flooded lot, but it still got me to my destination safely at least," she captioned the video, which had more than 822,300 views as of this writing. However, according to a Waymo spokesperson who emailed Motor1, JoJo is not the original owner of the video. The spokesperson says the original rider is a San Francisco customer "who claims the Waymo handled the situation well." They continue, "A vehicle briefly entered the flooded parking lot of Oyster Point Marina. As shown in the video, it quickly made a three-point turn and exited the flooded area on its own, taking the rider to their destination." Can Waymo Cars Drive Through Flooded Water? Waymo vehicles can handle some water, but deep floods are a different story. Their sensors help the AI distinguish between a puddle and a deeper hazard, but heavy flooding still poses serious risks to any vehicle, including electric ones. Waymo often suspends service or reroutes cars during storms because deep water can damage electrical systems, leading to unpredictable behavior. In cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, for instance, Waymo has temporarily paused service during storms to avoid accidents. The system uses sensors to gauge water depth, letting cars drive through small puddles but diverting around deeper water. Waymo cars also share data, so if one detects flooding, nearby vehicles can adjust their routes. "The Waymo Driver is designed to detect and distinguish between puddles and flooded roadways, using different sensor modalities and AI to help in various detections and responses, the spokesperson told Motor1. "This includes pre-emptive detection, which enables the Waymo Driver to detect a flooded roadway in advance, stop before entering deep water, and execute turnaround maneuvers." They note that the cars also have in-flood detection: "If the Waymo Driver enters a flooded section of roadway, there are additional triggers that will cause it to stop instead of proceeding further, which took place in [the video]." Even though EVs handle water better than gas cars, deep floods can still overwhelm them. Sensors aren’t perfect, and there have been videos of Waymo vehicles getting stuck or misjudging hazards, which is why the company errs on the side of caution. Overall, Waymo prioritizes safety over convenience. Their cars might technically drive through shallower flooded areas, but the company avoids deep water and limits operations during heavy rain. Human emergency services strongly advise the same—floodwaters are unpredictable and dangerous, and even self-driving technology can’t make them safe. Viewers Shocked by Waymo Flood Drive Commenters who watched JoJo’s clip were stunned that a Waymo navigated water that looked high enough to flood the car if the rider opened the door too soon. "You’re in a body of water, babes," one wrote. "Girl, press the emergency button," another urged. "R u in the ocean?" a third quipped. Some viewers said experiences like the rider’s made them hesitant to ever ride in a Waymo, even as the service continues expanding into new cities. "People who use Waymo are genuinely test subjects," one joked. "I need y’all to start using this service Way-less," another added. "I’ve seen enough Waymo videos to never get in one. Are you still with us?" a third questioned. "You could never pay me to ride in a Waymo," said a fourth. Others applauded the rider for staying calm in a situation that had many convinced the car would be submerged. "I would literally have a panic attack," one woman commented. "You wayyy too calm, I wudda been panicking trying to grab the wheel," another added. "You is too calm for me," a third said. Motor1 has reached out to JoJo via TikTok direct message and the purported original creator via X direct message. We'll be sure to update this if either responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
!['What the [Expletive] Is That?:' Customer Complains Car is 'Shaking Like Crazy.' Then His Mechanic Takes a Closer Look At The Tire](https://topcarnews.net/media/id/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4ubW90b3IxLmNvbS9p-bWFnZXMvbWdsL0FrbkxWNi9zMS9jdXN0-b21lci1jb21wbGFpbnMtY2FyLWlzLXNo-YWtpbmctbGlrZS1jcmF6eS4tdGhlbi10-aGUtbWVjaGFuaWMtbG9va3MtYXQtaGlz-LXRpcmUuanBn/218c468b845ffd96e92fea5a0f10fae9.jpg)
