As autonomous vehicles become a regular feature of San Francisco’s streets, some passengers are using driverless robotaxis for far more than just transportation. According to multiple reports, including a detailed account by The San Francisco Standard, a growing number of riders are engaging in sexual activity during their rides in vehicles operated by Cruise, a self-driving subsidiary of General Motors.
Passengers describe the experience as a new frontier in personal freedom — one enabled by the absence of a human driver and a sense of privacy within the glass cabins of these futuristic vehicles. «There’s no one in the front seat to tell you not to,» said one user, who estimates he has had sex in Cruise vehicles on at least three separate occasions.
Another rider referred to as Megan shared how her ride escalated into a sexual encounter moments after entering a Cruise robotaxi wearing only a robe. «We got in and just got straight to it,» she said. «The fact that we were out in public made it more exciting.»
Privacy vs. Surveillance
Although the vehicles may feel private, robotaxis are heavily monitored. Both Cruise and its rival, Waymo, confirm that they record video inside the cabins, although audio is typically only captured during support calls. Cameras are primarily activated for safety, support, or maintenance purposes, and riders are notified of their presence in advance.
Cruise states in its terms of service that «inappropriate, offensive, or threatening» behaviour is prohibited, and violations may result in account suspension. Still, many users appear either unaware of these rules or willing to test their limits.
Legal Gray Areas
California law prohibits open containers of alcohol or marijuana in moving vehicles, although there is ambiguity regarding how these rules apply to autonomous taxis. One rider reportedly received a warning from Cruise after being caught on camera drinking beer inside a vehicle.
Additionally, the California Public Utilities Commission recently gave Cruise and Waymo approval to expand their paid services citywide and operate 24/7, marking a significant step forward for the self-driving industry and possibly opening the door to more controversial passenger behaviour.
Growing Industry, New Challenges
With more than 550 driverless cars between Cruise and Waymo now on San Francisco streets, the companies face new questions around privacy, legality and rider conduct. Cruise is also developing new sensor systems that could help detect objects left behind — possibly including evidence of unruly behaviour.
Although no arrests or legal actions have been reported related to sexual activity in autonomous cars, the incidents raise questions about how companies and regulators will handle such use cases in the future.
As one passenger put it: «It’s fun to realise this is the first place in the country where you can do this. It feels like I’m a trailblazer.»
