Waymo Suspends Service in San Francisco Due to Traffic Chaos During Power Outage

Waymo temporarily suspended its autonomous ride-hailing services across San Francisco on December 20, 2025, following a large-scale blackout that disrupted the city. A significant power outage, affecting around 125,000 homes and businesses, caused traffic lights to fail, which created chaos for Waymo’s fleet of driverless cars. Numerous videos surfaced showing Waymos halted at intersections, blocking traffic as human drivers navigated around them. The power outage, caused by rolling blackouts from Pacific Gas & Electric, led to widespread gridlock, and emergency vehicles faced challenges due to the confusion on the streets. In response, Waymo stated that it paused operations to ensure rider safety and allow clear access for emergency responders. The company confirmed the resumption of its services the following Sunday. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of autonomous vehicles in real-world conditions, particularly when facing unpredictable scenarios such as power outages.