Multiple Californians have admitted to having sex in driverless cars in San Francisco, according to reports.
NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield could hardly contain her amusement as she reflected on this growing trend in the city.
It appears that some robotaxi users have begun pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable in the backseat, a San Francisco Standard report stated last week. At least six people, who had their names changed for the sake of privacy, told the publication they have had sex in the back of a moving robotaxi at least once.
A Cruise spokesperson, a company that operate autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, told Newsweek that the company will take appropriate action against anyone who violates the guidelines of its Community Rules and Terms of Service.
The spokesperson added that sexual conduct is not allowed during a trip and its Community Rules explicitly condemn any illegal activity or inappropriate behavior while using the service.
"So you'll never guess what the cool kids are doing these days," Banfield said while laughing during a Tuesday night show on the report.
"There is a newspaper in San Francisco that has done a deep dive into something called Cruise cars, that is a driverless taxi, it is very popular in San Francisco," she said.
"They researched confessions from people who ride in the backseat and they are like doing it, they are having sex in the back of these things thinking there is no driver.
"But I have got news for you, if you are thinking that might be fun, they have actual surveillance. Everything is recorded inside and outside the car, the company says."
On its website, the Cruise company states that "we record video inside of the car for added safety and support."
"If something happened during your ride, we might review the recording to better understand what happened. We only record audio during active support calls," the company has stated.
The company also said it only keeps the video recordings for "short periods of time," but it may keep a recording as long as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce agreements.
Banfield closed her segment with a series of jokes about the brazen riders.
"I could use all sorts of puns, the vans a rocking don't come knocking, the shaggin wagon, but instead I will not use those puns and just let this one ride," she said before bursting out laughing.
On its website, Cruise asks riders in its autonomous vehicles to be respectful.
"We are all in this together, so please treat others and our AVs (autonomous vehicles) with care and respect," the company stated on its website.
"You will, not engage in activities that are threatening, confrontational, discriminatory, harassing, disrespectful, offensive, or inappropriate toward others, including other riders, motorists and pedestrians while using the Services, whether inside or outside the AV.
"[You will] Respect personal differences; treat the property of others with due care; and respect the privacy of others.
"Take the comfort of others into account—keep volumes to a reasonable level; and don't do anything in the AV that would potentially make others uncomfortable."
Update 08/16/23, 11:40 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment from a Cruise spokesperson.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
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