Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Breaks Down Mid-Trip, Passengers Advised to Switch to Uber or Lyft

Earlier in May, a passenger and his wife were riding in a Waymo autonomous taxi in downtown San Francisco when the vehicle suddenly stopped about 0.48 kilometers from their destination hotel and refused to proceed further. After contacting Waymo’s customer support, they were told there was a “massive blockage” ahead that prevented the vehicle from continuing, and the representative suggested they switch to alternative ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft. A Waymo spokesperson explained that the vehicle had been halted because the operations team had learned of a “planned protest” in the area and had proactively imposed restrictions on vehicle operations—but declined to provide specific details about the protest. The company stated that when a vehicle cannot reach its destination, it advises passengers to use other transportation options, has already refunded the fare for this trip, and is investigating the incident to improve future service. The passenger’s wife has mobility difficulties, and the couple ultimately had to walk back to their hotel. This incident occurred shortly after at least two separate cases this month in which Waymo vehicles mistakenly drove into flooded areas. In response, the company issued a software recall, suspended service in six cities—including Atlanta and San Antonio—and temporarily halted highway passenger operations to enhance vehicle performance near construction zones. The passenger is an author who has published books on autonomous driving and is currently writing a novel on the topic. He noted that aside from this incident, he previously had a smooth experience with Waymo during another ride, where the vehicle skillfully navigated around another self-driving car. However, he questioned whether Waymo could successfully expand its service to more complex urban environments like New York if it struggles even with San Francisco’s road conditions.