Waymo temporarily suspended its driverless robotaxi service in San Francisco on March 16, 2024, following a significant blackout affecting approximately one-third of the city’s residents. The outage was caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation, leaving many without power for several hours.
Residents reported that Waymo vehicles were left stranded, blocking intersections and contributing to traffic congestion during the power outage. According to reports from The San Francisco Standard, the situation drew attention as frustrated drivers and onlookers shared images and videos on social media platform X.
In response to the blackout, Waymo announced that it had halted its services in the Bay Area. Spokesperson Suzanne Philion confirmed in an email to Mashable that the company was working closely with city officials to restore operations. “We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the widespread power outage,” Philion stated. “Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials, and we are hopeful to bring our services back online soon.”
While power restoration began around 21:10 local time, some outages persisted into the early hours of Sunday morning. PG&E’s outage map showed that a number of residents were still affected. This incident is part of a recent pattern of challenges faced by Waymo in the city.
Earlier in March, a video circulated online showing a driverless Waymo vehicle entering traffic unexpectedly. Additionally, a woman in Los Angeles discovered an unknown individual in the trunk of her Waymo vehicle, raising concerns about passenger safety and vehicle security. The company also issued a software recall after reports emerged of its cars illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin.
The series of incidents has prompted scrutiny of Waymo’s autonomous technology, especially following a November incident where one of its vehicles struck a neighborhood cat in San Francisco. As the company navigates these operational hurdles, its commitment to safety and service will be critical in regaining public trust.
