San Francisco Mayor Calls for Tighter Regulations After Waymo Traffic Incident

Even San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who previously advocated for the city to be a testing ground for new technologies, has recognized limits. This was evident when emerging technologies caused significant traffic delays, leaving numerous drivers and passengers stuck.

About two weeks after Waymo robotaxis became stranded during heavy traffic on July 4, Mayor Lurie called on state regulators to improve regulations governing autonomous vehicles. The robotaxis lost power and clogged essential roadways, worsening the traffic situation for thousands of residents and commuters.

In a letter to the state Department of Transportation, which TechCrunch reviewed, Lurie cited two specific events — a major power outage in December and the July 4 fireworks, which drew 100,000 attendees — both of which resulted in many Waymo vehicles being left stranded and impeded traffic flow. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported on this correspondence.

Lurie mentioned in the letter that these incidents “underscore how California’s existing regulatory framework fails to address the functioning of autonomous vehicles during significant events, whether planned or unexpected. The pressing concern for California is not just if autonomous vehicles can operate safely under normal conditions, but if they can reliably manage extraordinary circumstances.”

He proposed that manufacturers of autonomous vehicles should demonstrate four “core operational capabilities” and urged the California Department of Transportation to establish statewide standards to prevent future occurrences similar to the congestion experienced on July 4.

Under Lurie’s proposal, companies would be required to quickly remove or relocate robotaxis from active travel lanes to maintain traffic flow and be flexible in real time by adjusting their routes, service areas, and pick-up/drop-off locations. They would also need to provide real-time operational data to local authorities, including information on service disruptions, the locations of immobilized robotaxis, and recovery efforts, as well as demonstrate their ability to manage sudden surges of traffic and pedestrians through testing.

TechCrunch has contacted Waymo for a statement. Updates will be provided once the company responds.

Any company looking to run a robotaxi service in California must successfully complete two permit processes for testing and deployment: one regulated by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and another by the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). California’s regulatory framework is more stringent than in states like Texas and Arizona, but this has not deterred companies from seeking to operate there.

San Francisco, along with the southern stretch into Silicon Valley, has long been a testing ground for autonomous vehicle technologies. Six companies, including Nuro, Waymo, and Zoox, have obtained driverless testing permits, enabling their vehicles to operate without a human safety operator.

Furthermore, this region has evolved into a launchpad for commercial services, which necessitate additional permits from the DMV and CPUC.

Waymo leads the industry, with approximately 1,000 robotaxis currently active in the Bay Area. Many other companies are either testing or preparing to commence commercial services, including Amazon-owned Zoox and Uber’s premium robotaxi option. Tesla has announced its own robotaxi service but has yet to receive permits for fully autonomous operations; it currently operates under a charter transportation permit, allowing its drivers to transport passengers using vehicles equipped with its advanced driver assistance system rather than fully autonomous software.

Waymo’s scale has made it a focal point for regulators in San Francisco and elsewhere. The company now operates in 11 cities and claims to provide over 500,000 paid rides each week. In light of the traffic emergency in San Francisco, Lurie pointed out that Waymo had agreed to limit its services on July 4 around the waterfront and designated a representative to the city’s emergency center. However, these measures were insufficient to shield the Waymo vehicles from becoming caught in heavy traffic beyond that area.

Lurie emphasized that such voluntary measures are no longer adequate — highlighting the growing size of Waymo’s fleet. He argued that the four proposed requirements “will not undermine autonomous vehicles; they will enhance them.”