Waymo Halts Robotaxi Service in San Francisco Amid Widespread Blackout
Waymo’s robotaxi service faced an unexpected halt in San Francisco over the weekend due to a significant blackout that left numerous vehicles stranded across city streets.
Power Outage Causes Chaos
On Saturday evening, many Waymo robotaxis became immobilized, resulting in traffic congestion as human drivers were either stuck behind them or attempted to navigate around the halted vehicles. Eye-catching photos and videos flooded social media, capturing the unusual scene.
Waymo Resumes Operations
In response to the blackout, Waymo announced a temporary suspension of its service. The company later confirmed to TechCrunch on Sunday afternoon that it would resume operations. A Waymo spokesperson explained, “Yesterday’s power outage was a widespread event that caused gridlock across San Francisco, with non-functioning traffic signals and transit disruptions.”
Understanding the Impact of the Blackout
The blackout, reportedly triggered by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric substation, impacted around 120,000 customers in San Francisco. While power was restored to many by late Saturday, approximately 35,000 residents remained without electricity by Sunday morning. PG&E’s website indicated that thousands still faced outages at that time.
Waymo’s Response to Traffic Challenges
Waymo stated that its self-driving systems typically treat non-functioning traffic lights as four-way stops. However, due to the extensive nature of the blackout, some robotaxis remained stationary longer than usual while attempting to evaluate the intersections. Thankfully, the company reported that most active trips were completed successfully.
Community Trust and Lessons Learned
Addressing the situation, the Waymo spokesperson expressed the company’s dedication to learning from the incident: “We are focused on rapidly integrating the lessons learned from this event and are committed to earning and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve every day.”
Mayor’s Advisory to Residents
The blackout also affected many of the city’s traffic lights and disrupted Muni mass transit services. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, highlighting the chaos on the roads.
Waymo’s Robotaxi Usage on the Rise
Despite this incident, a recently leaked letter from Tiger Global Management revealed that Waymo’s robotaxi service is thriving, offering an impressive 450,000 rides each week—nearly double the figure disclosed earlier this year.
Looking Ahead
As Waymo resumes its operations, the company aims to enhance its systems to better handle unexpected circumstances in the future. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle services amidst unforeseen infrastructure failures.
This article has been updated with the latest information regarding Waymo’s resumption of services.
