San Francisco: A major power outage across San Francisco forced Waymo to temporarily stop its autonomous ride-hailing service after traffic signals went dark in several neighborhoods, creating unsafe driving conditions.
Waymo Halts Robotaxi Operations Citywide
Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Google’s parent firm Alphabet, suspended its driverless taxi service across San Francisco on Saturday evening. The decision came after a widespread electricity outage disrupted traffic lights throughout the city.
According to Waymo, the service was paused around 8 p.m. to ensure public safety. Videos shared on social media showed several Waymo vehicles stopped in the middle of intersections with hazard lights on, while other drivers carefully navigated around them.
Official Statement from Waymo
Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion confirmed the suspension in a statement released Sunday morning.
“We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the widespread power outage,” she said. “Our teams are working closely with city officials, and we hope to resume service soon. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
The company did not provide a specific timeline for when driverless rides would restart.
Power Outage Impacts One-Third of the City
The blackout began late Saturday morning and worsened throughout the afternoon. Around 130,000 homes and businesses lost power, representing nearly one-third of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers in San Francisco.
Entire neighborhoods were affected, including the Richmond District, Sunset District, Presidio, Haight-Ashbury, and parts of downtown San Francisco.
Cause of the Blackout Still Under Investigation
PG&E identified a fire at a power substation near Eighth and Mission Streets as a major cause of the outage. However, utility officials said the complete reason behind the failure was still being investigated.
By early Sunday, electricity had been restored to most customers, but more than 20,000 people were still without power.
Traffic and Public Transit Disruptions Across San Francisco
With traffic lights either turned off or flashing red, city officials advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and treat all intersections as four-way stops.
Public transportation systems were also affected. BART trains skipped several downtown stations, while Muni reduced service in underground subway tunnels due to safety concerns.
City Officials Respond to the Emergency
Mayor Daniel Lurie said emergency crews were deployed across the city to control traffic and maintain order. Police officers and transit workers were placed at key intersections to assist drivers and pedestrians.
“Waymo has also paused service,” the mayor confirmed during an evening update, emphasizing that public safety was the city’s top priority.
Tesla Comments Amid the Disruption
Amid the chaos, Tesla used the situation to highlight its own technology. The company claimed that its Full Self-Driving system is trained on billions of real-world miles, including scenarios involving power outages.
Autonomous Vehicles Face New Questions
The incident raised broader concerns about how self-driving vehicles handle large-scale infrastructure failures like citywide blackouts. Dark traffic signals and unexpected road conditions can challenge even advanced autonomous systems.
For now, Waymo and city officials agree that restoring power, clearing roads, and ensuring public safety must come first before driverless cars return to San Francisco streets.
Conclusion
The San Francisco power outage highlighted the limitations of autonomous vehicle services during major infrastructure disruptions. While Waymo acted quickly by suspending its robotaxi service, the incident underscores the importance of reliable city systems for the safe operation of self-driving technology. As power continues to be restored, residents and officials remain focused on safety before normal transportation services resume.
