San Francisco Mayor pushes for stricter rules after Waymo traffic fiasco

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who previously supported the city as a testing ground for emerging tech, has changed his stance after a recent Waymo robotaxi traffic debacle. Lurie sent a letter to the California Department of Transportation urging stricter rules for autonomous vehicles. The letter, obtained by TechCrunch, cited two incidents: a widespread power outage in December and the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show on July 4, which attracted 100,000 spectators. In both cases, dozens of Waymo vehicles became stranded and paralyzed traffic.

Lurie argued that California's current regulatory framework does not adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents. He proposed four core operational capabilities: companies must immediately relocate robotaxis from active lanes, adapt in real time by adjusting routes and service zones, share real-time operations data with local agencies, and demonstrate through testing that they can handle large influxes of people and traffic.

California already has stricter rules than other states, but that hasn't deterred companies. The San Francisco area hosts 1,000 Waymo robotaxis – the largest fleet in the region. Waymo had agreed to restrict service on July 4 near the waterfront, but it wasn't enough. Lurie emphasized that voluntary actions are no longer sufficient and that statewide standards are needed.