Robotaxis draw criticismReuters, SAN FRANCISCOA widespread power outage in San Francisco that led to Waymo robotaxis blocking traffic earlier this month has raised concerns about the readiness of autonomous vehicle operators to handle major emergencies such as earthquakes and floods. A Waymo vehicle drives on Drumm Street during a break between rain storms in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. Robotaxi operators across the globe use remote access by humans — known in the industry as “teleoperation” — in varying degrees to monitor and control vehicles. “The whole point of having remote operations is for humans to be there when the system is not responsive in the way it should be,” she said. “The federal government needs to regulate remote operations,” Cummings said.

Source: Taipei Times December 28, 2025 16:11 UTC