California Probes Waymo Robotaxi Stalls After Power Outage Paralyzes San Francisco

California regulators are now examining multiple incidents where Waymo's robotaxis stalled across San Francisco during a recent power outage, according to Reuters. The event, which caused significant traffic disruption, has reignited the debate over the real-world reliability of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology when faced with unpredictable urban infrastructure failures.

A City in the Dark, A Fleet at a Standstill

The issue began when a major power outage struck the city, knocking out traffic signals and other critical systems. In response, numerous Waymo vehicles reportedly stopped in place, some in the middle of intersections, unable to navigate the chaotic environment. This created bottlenecks and forced human drivers to maneuver around the immobilized AVs.

Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary, stated that its vehicles behaved as designed. A company spokesperson explained that the cars entered a "safe state pull over" as a safety precaution when encountering situations their AI couldn't confidently interpret. From Waymo's perspective, stopping was a feature, not a bug.

Regulators Question the Definition of 'Safe'

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), however, is taking a closer look. The agency is concerned that a vehicle's individual "safe state" could create a broadly unsafe condition for the public by obstructing traffic and emergency services. The investigation aims to determine whether Waymo's protocols are robust enough for widespread deployment and if its definition of safety aligns with public interest.