San Francisco Power Outage Halts Waymo Robotaxis, Disrupts City Traffic
Published 21 December 2025
Highlights
- A significant power outage in San Francisco halted Waymo's self-driving taxis, affecting over 100,000 customers.
- The outage, caused by a substation fire, led to traffic signal failures and widespread traffic disruptions.
- Waymo paused its ride-hailing services in the Bay Area but has since resumed operations.
- The incident highlighted the reliance of autonomous vehicles on functional infrastructure.
- PG&E restored power to most affected customers by Sunday afternoon, with full restoration expected by Monday.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: San Francisco Power Outage Halts Waymo Robotaxis, Disrupts City Traffic
A massive power outage in San Francisco over the weekend brought the city to a standstill, affecting over 100,000 customers and halting Waymo's self-driving taxis. The outage, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, was attributed to a fire at a substation, according to utility provider Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Impact on Autonomous Vehicles
The power failure led to traffic signal outages across the city, causing significant disruptions. Waymo's autonomous vehicles, unable to navigate without functioning signals, were seen immobilized at intersections, contributing to traffic congestion. Videos shared on social media depicted Waymo robotaxis with hazard lights flashing, as human-driven cars maneuvered around them.
Waymo's Response and Service Suspension
In response to the outage, Waymo temporarily suspended its ride-hailing services in the Bay Area. "Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials," said Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion. Despite the challenges, most active Waymo trips were completed before the vehicles were returned to depots or pulled over.
Citywide Disruptions and Recovery Efforts
The blackout affected approximately 130,000 homes and businesses, with Mayor Daniel Lurie urging residents to stay off the roads due to non-functional traffic lights. Police officers and fire crews were deployed to manage traffic flow. By Sunday afternoon, PG&E had restored power to all but 17,000 customers, with full restoration expected by Monday.
Broader Implications for Autonomous Vehicles
The incident underscores the dependency of autonomous vehicles on surrounding infrastructure. While Waymo has touted the safety of its vehicles, the outage revealed vulnerabilities when external factors, such as power grid failures, come into play. Waymo, which operates a fleet of about 2,500 vehicles, continues to expand its services across major U.S. cities.
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Scenario Analysis
The San Francisco power outage serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle operators in urban environments. As cities increasingly adopt self-driving technology, ensuring robust infrastructure becomes paramount. Experts suggest that future developments in autonomous vehicle technology may need to incorporate more resilient systems to handle such disruptions.
Politically, the incident could prompt discussions on infrastructure investment and regulatory measures to support the safe integration of autonomous vehicles into urban traffic systems. As Waymo and other companies continue to expand, addressing these challenges will be crucial to maintaining public trust and operational reliability.
A massive power outage in San Francisco over the weekend brought the city to a standstill, affecting over 100,000 customers and halting Waymo's self-driving taxis. The outage, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, was attributed to a fire at a substation, according to utility provider Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Impact on Autonomous Vehicles
The power failure led to traffic signal outages across the city, causing significant disruptions. Waymo's autonomous vehicles, unable to navigate without functioning signals, were seen immobilized at intersections, contributing to traffic congestion. Videos shared on social media depicted Waymo robotaxis with hazard lights flashing, as human-driven cars maneuvered around them.
Waymo's Response and Service Suspension
In response to the outage, Waymo temporarily suspended its ride-hailing services in the Bay Area. "Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials," said Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion. Despite the challenges, most active Waymo trips were completed before the vehicles were returned to depots or pulled over.
Citywide Disruptions and Recovery Efforts
The blackout affected approximately 130,000 homes and businesses, with Mayor Daniel Lurie urging residents to stay off the roads due to non-functional traffic lights. Police officers and fire crews were deployed to manage traffic flow. By Sunday afternoon, PG&E had restored power to all but 17,000 customers, with full restoration expected by Monday.
Broader Implications for Autonomous Vehicles
The incident underscores the dependency of autonomous vehicles on surrounding infrastructure. While Waymo has touted the safety of its vehicles, the outage revealed vulnerabilities when external factors, such as power grid failures, come into play. Waymo, which operates a fleet of about 2,500 vehicles, continues to expand its services across major U.S. cities.
What this might mean
The San Francisco power outage serves as a critical reminder of the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle operators in urban environments. As cities increasingly adopt self-driving technology, ensuring robust infrastructure becomes paramount. Experts suggest that future developments in autonomous vehicle technology may need to incorporate more resilient systems to handle such disruptions.
Politically, the incident could prompt discussions on infrastructure investment and regulatory measures to support the safe integration of autonomous vehicles into urban traffic systems. As Waymo and other companies continue to expand, addressing these challenges will be crucial to maintaining public trust and operational reliability.
