Waymo resumed its San Francisco robotaxi service after pausing rides for about an hour during a power outage that disrupted traffic signals across parts of the city. The Alphabet-owned company said it temporarily adjusted operations while assessing the outage and coordinating with local officials.
Around 9,400 Pacific Gas and Electric customers were affected after the outage began on July 18. Areas including the Richmond District and Presidio lost power, while some traffic signals stopped working.
Service Paused During Outage Assessment
Waymo notified customers that rides were temporarily unavailable and that freeway routes could not be used. The company initially said it was monitoring local conditions and would restore normal operations as soon as possible.
A spokesperson later said Waymo paused service for approximately one hour to determine the scale of the outage. Robotaxis continued operating elsewhere in the Bay Area while service was restricted in affected parts of San Francisco.
Power was restored shortly after 4 p.m. Waymo then resumed its San Francisco operations.
Previous Blackout Disrupted Waymo Vehicles
The outage followed a larger disruption in December 2025, when a fire at a PG&E substation cut power to about one-third of San Francisco. Several Waymo vehicles stopped at intersections with inactive traffic lights, contributing to congestion before the company suspended service.
Waymo later published an official account of the December outage. The company said the number of disabled signals and requests for remote assistance had placed pressure on its systems.
Waymo said it would update its software and emergency-response procedures to give vehicles more information about widespread power failures. The company also adjusted how its fleet handles requests for confirmation at darkened intersections.
Mayor Seeks Stronger State Rules
Waymo faced another disruption during San Francisco’s Fourth of July fireworks event, when several vehicles became immobilised amid heavy pedestrian and road traffic. Some vehicles blocked streets and delayed public transport.
Mayor Daniel Lurie subsequently asked California officials to adopt stronger requirements governing autonomous vehicles during emergencies and large planned events. His proposals included faster removal of disabled vehicles, real-time data sharing and tests showing that operators can respond to sudden traffic changes.
San Francisco officials do not directly regulate autonomous vehicle deployment, as that authority sits mainly with state agencies. Lurie said existing regulations did not adequately address how driverless fleets should operate during major incidents.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
For more stories like it, click the +Follow button at the top of this page to follow us.