Waymo Robotaxis Gridlock Streets During Massive San Francisco Power Outage

San Francisco, California – Video recorded on December 20, 2025, shows three Waymo autonomous robotaxis stopped and blocking traffic at the intersection of Guerrero Street and Market Street during a major citywide power outage.

The clip, filmed from a following vehicle at dusk on wet pavement, captures the three white Jaguar I-Pace Waymos with roof sensor arrays halted close together across lanes. Hazard lights flash on at least one vehicle as the cars treat the darkened traffic signals as four-way stops, waiting extended periods.

Other drivers carefully maneuver around the stalled cluster, creating congestion on the narrow two-lane street lined with Victorian buildings and trees. The post’s caption reads: “Fucking waymo”, expressing frustration at the robotaxis.

The footage reflects a larger issue that evening, when a PG&E substation fire caused a massive outage affecting roughly 130,000 customers and knocking out traffic lights across San Francisco. Waymo vehicles, programmed to handle non-functioning signals cautiously and request remote assistance, became overwhelmed as thousands of simultaneous system checks flooded their network.

The result was prolonged stops, clusters of immobile robotaxis, and gridlock. Waymo suspended operations that night for safety, resuming the next day after power restoration, and later deployed software updates to better handle large-scale outages.

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