Waymo’s self-driving robotaxis excel at many driving tasks, from navigating left turns to airport drop-offs. However, a recent power outage in San Francisco revealed a significant vulnerability: during a blackout, these vehicles can become immobilized.
Robotaxis Stranded During San Francisco Blackout
On Saturday, a major power outage in San Francisco left many Waymo vehicles unable to function as expected. Instead of pulling over or treating intersections as four-way stops, the vehicles reportedly remained stationary with hazard lights activated, resembling novice drivers frozen by uncertainty. Several became stuck in intersections, causing traffic jams, and one blocked a city bus. The company suspended service for several hours.
Waymo stated that its vehicles should have been able to navigate intersections without functioning traffic signals, but “the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections.” This incident is being described as Waymo’s biggest crisis to date.
A History of Issues
This is not the first time Waymo vehicles have encountered problems in San Francisco. Prior incidents include getting stuck in a construction site, fatally striking a beloved cat, and experiencing standoffs with other vehicles unable to determine the proper course of action.
Despite these challenges, Waymo has logged more than 125 million miles of driving with fewer crashes than the average human driver on the same roads. The company has also expanded its services to several cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin, with plans to launch in London, New York City, and Washington, D.C., pending regulatory approval.
The incident raises questions about how fleets of driverless cars will respond to larger-scale emergencies. What if hundreds of Waymo taxis were to shut down during an earthquake? How would emergency responders interact with them? Or how would they navigate a wildfire or other chaotic event?
Tesla and Zoox are also developing robotaxi services, and all companies face similar hurdles. While autonomous vehicles hold the potential to significantly reduce the nearly 40,000 traffic fatalities that occur in the U.S. annually, realizing that potential requires addressing these edge cases and ensuring predictable behavior in all conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened when the power went out in San Francisco?
During the power outage, many Waymo vehicles stopped and remained stationary with their hazard lights on, blocking traffic and, in one instance, a city bus. The vehicles were unable to navigate intersections without functioning traffic signals as intended.
Has Waymo experienced issues in San Francisco before?
Yes, Waymo vehicles have previously gotten stuck in a construction site, been involved in a fatal collision with a cat, and experienced standoffs with other vehicles.
Where does Waymo currently operate?
Waymo currently operates in the Bay Area, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin. The company plans to expand to London, New York City, and Washington, D.C., pending regulatory approval.
As autonomous vehicle technology continues to evolve, how confident are you that these systems can reliably handle unexpected and challenging real-world scenarios?
