Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle service, temporarily suspended operations in San Francisco over the weekend after a prolonged power outage paralyzed parts of the city. The outage, affecting nearly 19,000 customers, left Waymo’s fleet of self-driving cars immobilized at traffic signals, causing gridlock and frustration for other drivers.
Disruption and Response
The incident highlights a critical vulnerability in current autonomous systems: reliance on functioning infrastructure. When power went out, Waymo vehicles were unable to navigate safely at darkened intersections, effectively blocking traffic in multiple locations. Tow truck operators reported assisting stranded cars overnight, and videos circulated on social media showed vehicles stalled with hazard lights flashing.
Waymo paused service after the San Francisco mayor’s office contacted the company, citing worsening congestion. The company later confirmed the suspension and said operations would resume by 3:30 p.m. local time. Pacific Gas & Electric anticipates full power restoration by Monday afternoon.
Broader Implications
The situation raises questions about the readiness of autonomous technology for real-world disruptions. While Waymo has rapidly expanded in San Francisco since 2023—with approximately 1,000 vehicles now operating—this incident demonstrates the need for robust fail-safes. Autonomous systems must either function reliably in degraded conditions or safely transition control to prevent widespread disruptions.
The incident also underscores the growing dependence on electricity for modern transportation. Cities are increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure, and failures—whether due to weather, equipment malfunctions, or other causes—can have cascading effects.
User Demographics
Waymo has become popular in San Francisco, particularly among riders who value the perceived safety of driverless vehicles (especially women) and parents using the service for school transportation. The outage disrupted this growing user base, reinforcing the need for contingency plans.
This event serves as a reminder that even advanced technologies are still subject to basic infrastructure dependencies. The incident prompts further discussion on how cities and autonomous operators can better prepare for and respond to system failures.
