A Waymo robotaxi in Austin, Texas, blocked an ambulance from reaching the scene of a mass shooting, raising questions about the limits of remote assistance systems in AV networks when vehicles or the public need urgent intervention. The incident has raised concerns about the potential risks of remote supervisors located far away, some of whom are located 8,500 miles away in the Philippines, potentially posing risks to passengers, other drivers or national security. The company's remote assistants don't directly control the cars but respond to specific requests from the robotxi when its driving system asks for help. A police officer used his cellphone to contact Waymo specialists and managed to disengage the autonomous driving system and drive it into a nearby parking garage within a minute. Safety advocates have questioned AVs' ability to handle emergencies, pointing to similar incidents in San Francisco.