Posted on the 30th December 2025 in PHTM News

STORM WARNINGS AND SYSTEM FAILURES: WAYMO FLEET GROUNDED AGAIN

Waymo’s ambitious robotaxi rollout in San Francisco has hit another significant snag. Just days after a citywide power outage left its fleet paralysed, the company was forced to suspend all Bay Area operations as a severe storm approached.

The service suspension was triggered by a National Weather Service flash flood warning, with customers receiving an app notification stating: “Service temporarily paused due to National Weather Service flash flood warning.”

While the decision prioritises safety, it underscores growing concerns regarding the vehicles' inability to navigate unpredictable environments.

Last week’s power outage transformed the high-tech fleet into a series of stationary obstacles. Without functional traffic lights, footage captured the cabs idling in intersections, blocking both human motorists and each other.

The incident highlighted a critical flaw in the AI’s programming: "Frightened animals have a fight-or-flight response; Waymos have a stand-dumbfoundedly-in-place response."

Despite a strong overall safety record, Waymo’s presence in San Francisco remains a flashpoint for local frustration. Public sentiment soured further last month after a robotaxi “ran over and killed a beloved bodega cat,” adding emotional weight to technical criticisms.

The vehicles have also been documented:

  • Driving down the wrong side of the road.

  • Getting stuck in roundabouts.

  • “Careening through an active police standoff.”

  • Becoming “paralysed by a parade.”

As Waymo struggles to adapt to "offbeat road scenarios," experts are calling for a more measured approach to deployment. Jeffrey Tumlin, former CEO of San Francisco’s Municipal Transit Authority, suggested that the city needs to rethink the density of autonomous vehicles.

“I think we need to be asking ‘what is a reasonable number of [autonomous vehicles] to have on city streets, by time of day, by geography and weather?’” Tumlin said.


Read another story