SF Standard – Waymos stalled and snarled traffic after SF’s biggest fireworks show in years

One robotaxi drove through an exploding firework in the Mission

Editors note: one again Waymo shows they are simply adding more and more cars to the mix, greatly increasing congestion. And they are truly incompetent drivers. Safety is not the issue here. Its about completely screwing up the streets of San Francisco, again!

See original article by Jennifer Wadsworth at SF Standard

Waymos ran into trouble during yet another major San Francisco event, with apparently dozens of robotaxis disrupted by gridlock from the Fourth of July celebration— and one driving directly through an exploding firework.

A video circulating on social media shows a Waymo rolling into a detonating firework in a Mission intersection, with colorful smoke visible around the white vehicle and a passenger asking whether the car was on fire(opens in new tab). 

Waymo told CBS(opens in new tab) that no injuries were reported, that the vehicle was unscathed, and that the company had contacted the passenger.

Congestion during the holiday celebrations caused broader problems for the fleet. Waymos were reported blocking roadways elsewhere in the city, and the snarled traffic left some cars stuck for hours. A few ran out of power and had to be towed.

Clips of the stalled cars and the firework encounter quickly made the rounds online, drawing thousands of reactions and reigniting a debate over whether San Francisco’s streets are ready for driverless cars during major events.

One user said he was trapped behind Waymos for four hours near the Palace of Fine Arts. Another said his kids were stranded for just as long until tow trucks arrived to load up the idled robotaxis.

Waymo operates 577 robotaxis and provides roughly 500,000 paid rides a week across 10 cities. “Extreme traffic congestion in northern San Francisco disrupted normal operations for several Waymo vehicles,” the company said in a statement. 

A spokesperson said the company’s priority “is keeping San Francisco moving safely, especially during major city celebrations,” and the team “worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area” in coordination with local authorities and emergency services. The spokesperson said the company is “always evaluating ways to strengthen Waymo’s resilience in major traffic disruptions.”

Waymo said the stranded vehicles were concentrated on select streets in the Presidio. According to the company, heavy traffic, a huge influx of travelers, and unplanned road closures around the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show contributed to the unexpected congestion. 

Some vehicles were able to navigate away once traffic cleared. Others ran out of charge while idling and had to be towed. 

Waymo said it worked closely with city officials and the San Francisco Emergency Operations Center — including by preemptively embedding a staffer there — as well as local first responders, and that its roadside help team handles towing logistics in such situations.

Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office acknowledged the problem. “Public safety was our top priority last night, and we’re glad people overwhelmingly enjoyed the fireworks safely,” said Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for the mayor, adding, “With more than 100,000 people in the area, some people experienced delays getting home.” He said the city “will have conversations with our public and private partners to ensure the experience is smoother next time.” 

Lutvak thanked “first responders, transit operators, cleaning crews, city workers, small business owners, and outside partners for working to ensure people enjoyed the night and got home safely.”

The disruptions echo the December 2025 blackout in San Francisco, when a PG&E power outage knocked out traffic signals across the city and stranded hundreds of Waymos at intersections.

Waymo’s cars are designed to treat intersections with nonfunctioning traffic lights as four-way stops, and getting them moving again requires a “confirmation check” from a remote operator who cannot actually drive the vehicle.

The company had to send staff or tow trucks to retrieve 64 cars that winter night. And in two cases, first responders had to get behind the wheel to move the robotaxis out of the way. 

Waymo’s logistical failures during the blackout prompted a Board of Supervisors hearing in March, at which the company acknowledged it should have done more to work with the city during the blackout.

See original article by Jennifer Wadsworth at SF Standard

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