Mayor Daniel Lurie is pressing state regulators for tougher robotaxi requirements after major Waymo disruptions.
Why it matters: The move could change the pace and cost of autonomous vehicle deployment in San Francisco, one of the industry's most important test markets. It also could influence how California and other states set safety and emergency-response rules for robotaxis.
- On July 16, 2026, Lurie asked California transportation officials to tighten statewide autonomous-vehicle rules after two Waymo incidents.
- The incidents included a July 4 fireworks-night gridlock and a December 2025 blackout that left Waymo cars stalled in intersections.
- Lurie wants AV companies to keep disabled vehicles out of travel lanes, reroute in real time during emergencies, share live data with city officials, and prove they can handle big public events.
- California DMV rules adopted April 28, 2026, already added oversight on first responders, emergency geofencing, remote operations, data reporting and operational restrictions.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is asking California to step up oversight of autonomous vehicles after two high-profile Waymo disruptions in the city, including a July 4 gridlock episode and a December 2025 blackout that left driverless cars stalled in intersections. KQED reported that more than 30 Waymo vehicles got stuck in the parking area serving the San Francisco fireworks show, blocking access for hours and trapping Muni shuttles.
CBS San Francisco reported that several AVs stalled in travel lanes, some reportedly ran out of battery power and tow trucks could not reach the disabled vehicles because of the congestion. Some removals took three to four hours. CBS San Francisco also reported that nearly 130,000 San Franciscans lost electricity during the December outage that hit Waymo operations.
Lurie said state rules should require AV companies to prevent disabled vehicles from blocking travel lanes, adapt routes and service in real time during emergencies, share live operational data with city officials, and demonstrate through testing that the vehicles can safely handle large public events.
The ask comes as California has already moved to tighten oversight. The DMV adopted new autonomous-vehicle regulations on April 28, 2026, including rules on first-responder interaction, emergency geofencing, remote operations, data reporting and targeted restrictions. The CPUC also opened a new rulemaking on AV passenger service on August 28, 2025. California DMV and CPUC are both central to the state oversight process.
Waymo currently has authorization to deploy autonomous vehicles in San Francisco County and part of San Mateo County, according to the DMV. That makes the city a key operating market for the company and a high-visibility test case for how far regulators will go on emergency response, data sharing and operational limits. DMV permit records show Waymo's current approved areas of operation.
Lurie said, "Regulating for typical conditions is no longer enough." He added that California's challenge is not just whether AVs can operate safely under normal conditions, but whether they can perform reliably during extraordinary ones.
By the numbers
- More than 30 - Waymo vehicles stuck in the fireworks parking area, according to KQED
- 3 to 4 hours - Time some disabled vehicles reportedly took to be removed, according to CBS San Francisco
- Nearly 130,000 - San Franciscans who lost electricity during the December 2025 blackout, per CBS San Francisco
Yes, but: The exact regulatory path for Lurie's requests is unclear, and the city itself does not appear to control the state AV permitting process.
What's next: State regulators will have to decide whether to adopt any of Lurie's requested changes through DMV or CPUC action.