Watch: Empty Waymo Cars Circle Atlanta Cul-de-Sacs, Frustrating Residents

ATLANTA — Residents of a northwest Atlanta neighborhood say empty self-driving cars operated by Waymo have been repeatedly circling residential cul-de-sacs for hours, raising safety and traffic concerns among families living in the area.

Dozens of empty Waymos invaded an Atlanta neighborhood and circled a cul-de-sac for hours with no passengers https://t.co/qvziT2fz2T pic.twitter.com/bjdWFddZre

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 15, 2026

Neighbors on Battleview Drive told local television station WSB-TV that dozens of autonomous vehicles began appearing in the neighborhood about two months ago, with activity intensifying in recent weeks. Some residents said as many as 50 driverless cars passed through the street between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on a recent morning.

The vehicles, which operate through Uber in Atlanta, were reportedly traveling without passengers while looping through the neighborhood’s dead-end streets. Residents said the traffic has become disruptive and potentially dangerous for children, pets and commuters waiting for school buses.

One resident placed a children-at-play sign in the roadway, temporarily preventing the cars from entering the cul-de-sac. Neighbors said several Waymo vehicles then became stuck while attempting to reroute.

NEW: 50 empty Waymos invade Atlanta neighborhoods and circle their cul-de-sacs for hours early in the mornings.

Residents say they are getting waymo traffic than usual and have tried combating the cars with a neon green sign, which only made the problem worse.

The Waymos… pic.twitter.com/qBklKCry6F

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 15, 2026

Residents said they contacted Waymo, city officials and the Georgia Department of Transportation seeking a solution.

Waymo said in a statement that it had already addressed the routing behavior. The company said it is committed to being “good neighbors” and takes community feedback seriously, adding that its autonomous ride service completes more than 500,000 weekly trips nationwide and is designed to improve road safety.