Waymo Vehicles Stranded in San Francisco Traffic Amid July 4th Celebrations

Several Waymo vehicles required towing after their batteries depleted during heavy traffic in San Francisco during the Fourth of July festivities. Videos confirmed by NBC News showed numerous stationary Waymo vehicles, including many Jaguar I-PACE models, lined up following a fireworks display from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Additional footage depicted vehicles at a standstill in a crowded intersection. One vehicle was seen on a flatbed truck. The company highlighted that major traffic disruptions, the influx of travelers, and sudden road closures led to the surprising congestion.

Major traffic disruptions, a high volume of travelers, and unplanned road closures contributed to unexpected congestion, said a Waymo spokesperson. They mentioned that Waymo’s roadside team was active in clearing the vehicles and the company plans to enhance the resilience of its vehicles in heavy traffic situations.

Rose Peterson, a passenger in a Waymo ride, recounted her experience to NBC Bay Area. The vehicle attempted to drive while fireworks were ignited on the street. “We were pulling up to a four-way stop and this guy was shooting off a firework in the middle of the road, and then our Waymo starts driving, and we’re like, ‘Wait, what’s happening?’” she said. No injuries occurred in the vehicle.

Dave Guingona shared with the station that he spent nearly two hours in non-moving traffic until several Waymo vehicles were removed from the roadway. “We realized people were getting out of their cars, yelling and screaming at these Waymos because there were no drivers,” he said.

A Waymo vehicle reportedly caught fire after encountering fireworks set off on the roadway, but the company confirmed there were no injuries.

Waymo had a similar disruption in December, briefly pausing operations in San Francisco after a power outage affected over 100,000 customers, causing traffic lights to malfunction. During the outage, Waymo’s driverless cars stalled at intersections with disabled traffic lights.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, a supporter of autonomous vehicles, praised their safety and sustainability in the past. On Saturday night, he acknowledged the post-fireworks traffic challenges. “Fog and fireworks, we did it the San Francisco way,” he remarked in a video. “It’s going to take a while for these clogged streets to empty out. Give each other some grace as we clear out San Francisco.”

The Department of Emergency Management warned about heavy traffic and crowded transit following the fireworks. They advised delaying travel if possible.

Charles Lutvak, Lurie’s press secretary, stated that discussions with stakeholders regarding Saturday night’s traffic are forthcoming. “We understand that with more than 100,000 people in the area, some people experienced delays getting home, and we will have conversations with our public and private partners to ensure the experience is smoother next time,” Lutvak emphasized in an email.