Waymo forced to limit charging hours after noise complaints

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Daniel Ramirez, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Television station KTLA reported that self-driving taxi company Waymo was ordered to halt overnight charging at two Santa Monica, California lots after residents complained about backup warning beeps, humming from chargers and vehicles moving through alleys. The city ordered Waymo to stop operations between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and threatened legal action if the company did not comply.

Electric vehicles are generally quieter than gasoline or diesel-powered ones, and produce no pollution while being driven. So far, according to Waymo, its vehicles have a better safety record than cars driven by humans. Based on personal experience, I would advise anyone in a hurry not to drive behind a Waymo vehicle, because they never exceed the posted speed limit.

Nonetheless, Waymo cars must still operate quietly if they are being charged near homes and apartments, especially at night. Nighttime noise disrupts sleep, and is particularly deleterious to health.

Cleaner air free of internal combustion engine gaseous and particulate exhaust emissions is better for health, but noise is bad. We hope Waymo figures out a way to keep its vehicles quiet at night.

Quieter, cleaner air will be better and healthier for all.