Key Takeaways
- Waymo’s robotaxi service in San Francisco was temporarily paused.
- The pause lasted about one hour due to a power outage.
- Service has now resumed, with adjustments made for local conditions.
- Mayor Lurie calls for stricter regulations on autonomous vehicles during emergencies.
Service Resumption
Waymo has announced that its robotaxi service in San Francisco is back in operation after a brief pause lasting approximately one hour. This interruption was prompted by a power outage that impacted around 7,000 customers of PG&E in the area.
Details of the Pause
In a message shared on social media, Waymo informed its San Francisco customers that service was temporarily halted and that freeway routes were unavailable. A spokesperson for the company explained that adjustments were necessary to monitor local conditions and ensure rider safety.
Previous Incidents
This isn’t the first time power outages have disrupted Waymo’s operations. There have been instances in the past where vehicles stalled on city streets during blackouts, including a notable incident during a fireworks display on the Fourth of July.
Calls for Regulation
In light of these recurring issues, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has urged state officials to implement stricter regulations governing the operation of autonomous vehicles during major incidents, whether planned or unplanned.
Waymo’s spokesperson confirmed that the service has now resumed and adjustments have been made in response to the outage.