San Francisco Faces Traffic Disruption as Robotaxis Stall During Power OutageIn San Francisco, a significant power outage recently caused widespread disruption, not only for residents but also for the city's burgeoning fleet of autonomous taxis. Online footage showed multiple Waymo vehicles, their lights flashing and warning sounds activated, blocking intersections across several districts. In contrast to San Francisco, other regions, including parts of Europe, have not yet permitted widespread use of robotaxis on public roads. The San Francisco outage underscores the importance of robust contingency planning and the need for autonomous vehicle systems to better handle emergency situations, such as power failures or natural disasters. Service has since resumed, with Waymo vehicles once again available for booking via mobile applications.

Source: The Munich Eye December 23, 2025 17:21 UTC