An hours-long traffic jam in San Francisco on Saturday July 4 was partly the result of stalled Waymo vehicles, the autonomous car company has confirmed.
Alleged videos of the gridlock surfaced on X, where drivers posted angrily about Waymo cars that wouldn’t move.
A Waymo spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the city’s 4th of July celebration at the Golden Gate Bridge led to traffic disruptions, a high volume of travelers, and unexpected road closures nearby.
While some of the autonomous vehicles remained operational, others ran out of charge while idling and were towed as a result.
Mashable Light Speed
“Our priority is keeping San Francisco moving safely, especially during major city celebrations,” the Waymo spokesperson said in a statement. “Our team is always evaluating ways to strengthen Waymo’s resilience in major traffic disruptions.”
This isn’t the first time that stalled Waymo cars have caused traffic jams in the city by the Bay.
Last December, a power outage gave San Francisco Waymo vehicles trouble at intersections without functioning stoplights, and the company had to temporarily suspend its service.
Ironically, two days before the 4th of July gridlock, Waymo posted a video on X about the simplicity of hailing one of its cars.
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“Because after a night out, getting home should be the easiest part,” the video’s caption reads.
Topics
Self-Driving Cars
Social Good
