Waymo resumes San Francisco robotaxi service after outage pause

Service Resumption

Waymo confirmed that its robotic taxi service in San Francisco has resumed after a brief one-hour halt due to a significant power outage.

The outage impacted approximately 7,000 customers of PG&E, making Waymo adjust its operations temporarily.

Power Outage Details

A spokesperson from Waymo stated that the company paused its service to evaluate the effects of the outage and to ensure the safety of riders on the roads.

In a social media update, Waymo indicated that while service was paused, all freeway routes were unavailable during that time.

Previous Incidents

This is not the first time power outages have disrupted Waymo's operations. Similar incidents have led to vehicle stalls on city streets in the past.

Notably, during last year’s events such as a significant blackout and major public gatherings, Waymo vehicles faced operational challenges.

Regulatory Response

In light of these disruptions, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has advocated for more stringent state regulations governing the operation of autonomous vehicles during emergencies and planned events.

This push for regulation highlights ongoing concerns about the readiness of self-driving cars to handle unexpected incidents.