San Francisco Blackout Leaves Driverless Waymo Cars Stalled in Intersections, Causing Widespread Traffic Gridlock
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — A major power outage across the city late Tuesday night caused traffic signals to go dark, resulting in dozens of driverless Waymo cars freezing in place and blocking intersections throughout San Francisco.
Autonomous Cars Stalled When Signals Went Out
Witness video shows multiple Waymo vehicles stuck mid-turn, stopped in crosswalks, or simply frozen in the middle of busy intersections. With no traffic lights functioning, the vehicles appeared unable to determine how to proceed, leaving them stalled and immobile.
Residents reported:
- Waymo cars stopping in the middle of roadways
- Several vehicles stuck mid-intersection
- Some blocking crosswalks and left-turn lanes
- Drivers manually navigating around the stalled cars in the dark
The sudden immobilization created dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers already struggling with the blackout.
Citywide Backup Quickly Formed
With traffic lights out across much of San Francisco, the stalled autonomous vehicles helped trigger a rapid, citywide slowdown. Traffic backed up in multiple directions as drivers attempted to navigate unlit intersections while maneuvering around frozen driverless cars.
Many intersections became gridlocked, with pedestrians crossing between cars, vehicles honking, and drivers attempting to direct themselves without guidance from signals or traffic officers.
Questions Raised About Autonomous Vehicle Readiness
This incident adds to ongoing concerns about how autonomous vehicles respond during unexpected infrastructure failures, such as:
- Widespread blackouts
- Communication system disruptions
- Traffic signal outages
- Emergency response situations
City officials have not yet confirmed whether Waymo or emergency services intervened to move the disabled vehicles.
No Injuries Reported, But Safety Concerns Growing
Despite the chaotic scenes, there were no immediate reports of injuries. Still, the event highlights the challenges of relying on automated systems in rapidly changing or unstable city conditions. More updates will be provided if city officials or Waymo release a formal statement. Stay updated on national and local developments at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
