Why is Waymo using Nashville as a test case for robotaxis? | Opinion Autonomous technology may one day improve safety. But “may” is not good enough for a city like Nashville. It should come as no surprise that, within days of beginning operations in Nashville, Waymo began experiencing operational problems. We’ve seen this play out before. In cities across the country, autonomous vehicle rollouts have quickly been followed by real-world failures. In San Antonio, a Waymo robotaxi drove the wrong way on a one-way street during morning drop-off at Cambridge Elementary. In Austin, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating another case of Waymo passing a stopped school bus – even after claims the issue was fixed. And in Los Angeles, a Waymo vehicle drove the wrong way through a drive-thru. Now those same patterns are emerging here in Nashville. Why Nashville and Waymo don't mix I’ve spent my career representing people hurt by preventable crashes, and one lesson stands out: When convenience gets ahead of caution, the public pays the price. Nashville is a uniquely challenging place in which to drive. It’s a fast-growing city with dense downtown traffic, constant construction, heavy rideshare use and unpredictable elements – like pedal taverns weaving alongside buses and delivery vehicles. It requires quick judgment, adaptability and clear communication between drivers. Those are exactly the areas where autonomous vehicles are still struggling. In just the early days of operation, there have already been examples of Waymo vehicles hesitating mid-turn, stopping in intersections and pausing for extended periods when confronted with unusual traffic patterns. There have been awkward turns, navigation missteps and delays that disrupt the normal flow of traffic. These may sound like minor issues. But in a busy, tightly packed urban environment, hesitation and unpredictability create real risks. When one vehicle behaves