{"id":690,"date":"2026-07-06T09:09:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T04:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=690"},"modified":"2026-07-06T09:09:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T04:09:48","slug":"waymo-cars-stranded-on-san-francisco-streets-as-fourth-of-july-gridlock-drains-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=690","title":{"rendered":"Waymo cars stranded on San Francisco streets as Fourth of July gridlock drains batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-40d275\" class=\"body-graf\">Several Waymo vehicles had to be towed away after the company said their batteries died while they were stuck in heavy San Francisco traffic amid Fourth of July celebrations.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjQiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyNCAxNCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPGcgY2xpcC1wYXRoPSJ1cmwoI2NsaXAwXzM3M18yNjg3KSI+CjxwYXRoIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgY2xpcC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIiBkPSJNMTUuMTAwNiAwLjA2ODU1NTdDMTMuNTEwNiAtMC4zMDg5ODUgMTIuMDM5IDAuOTI3ODg0IDEyLjIwMjQgMi42MjQ5NEgxMi4yMDQzSDEzLjIzNDVDMTMuMjM0NSAyLjYyNDk0IDEzLjcxNTQgMi42MTkzIDEzLjg1NTMgMi45NDMzMUMxMy44NTUzIDIuOTQzMzEgMTIuMzMwMSAzLjUyMDg5IDEyLjQ1MTMgNC40NTkxMUwxMy40MDA4IDExLjM2MUwxNi43MjM1IDMuNDE3NTlDMTcuMjMwNiAyLjIxMTcxIDE2LjY2NDMgMC40MzI5NDggMTUuMTAwNiAwLjA2ODU1NTdaIiBmaWxsPSIjNjc1RUE5Ii8+CjxwYXRoIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgY2xpcC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIiBkPSJNMTAuNTUyMyAxMy45MzA1TDQuMDc2OCA5LjQxMzE1QzIuNDI4NTggOC4yNjA4MSAwLjc5ODIwNCA5LjQzNDc1IDAuNDUyNTk1IDEwLjY0OTFDLTAuMDU2NDI3OCAxMi40MzkxIDEuMDgzNzEgMTMuOTMwNSAyLjg3NTYyIDEzLjkzMDVIMTAuNTUyM1oiIGZpbGw9IiNGQ0NDMTYiLz4KPHBhdGggZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIiBjbGlwLXJ1bGU9ImV2ZW5vZGQiIGQ9Ik0xMS40MDI1IDIuNzM0NzlDMTEuNjQyIDAuOTgxMzg1IDEwLjE0MTIgLTAuMzE2NTI5IDguNTE2NDYgMC4wNjg1MjUzQzYuOTUyNzcgMC40MzI5MTggNi4zODY0NiAyLjIxMTY4IDYuODkzNiAzLjQxNzU2TDEwLjIxNjMgMTEuMzYwOUwxMS40MDI1IDIuNzM0NzlaIiBmaWxsPSIjRUQxOTQzIi8+CjxwYXRoIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgY2xpcC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIiBkPSJNOS45NTAzOSAxMi42NjM2TDYuNzYyOSA1LjA1NzM1QzYuMDE2MjcgMy4yOTM2MSA0LjA0MDI4IDMuMDc0NzkgMi45NDgwNCA0LjEwODhDMi4xNzk4MSA0LjgzNzU4IDEuNTgyNTEgNi44MjI5NiAzLjMwMjExIDguMDI1MDhMOS45NTAzOSAxMi42NjM2WiIgZmlsbD0iI0YzNzIyMSIvPgo8cGF0aCBmaWxsLXJ1bGU9ImV2ZW5vZGQiIGNsaXAtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgZD0iTTEzLjA2NDcgMTMuOTMwNUwxOS41NDAyIDkuNDEzMTVDMjEuMTg4NCA4LjI2MDgxIDIyLjgxODggOS40MzQ3NSAyMy4xNjQ0IDEwLjY0OTFDMjMuNjczNCAxMi40MzkxIDIyLjUzMzMgMTMuOTMwNSAyMC43NDE0IDEzLjkzMDVIMTMuMDY0N1oiIGZpbGw9IiMxM0FDNEIiLz4KPHBhdGggZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIiBjbGlwLXJ1bGU9ImV2ZW5vZGQiIGQ9Ik0xMy42NjY1IDEyLjY2MzZMMTYuODU0IDUuMDU3MzVDMTcuNjAwNiAzLjI5MzYxIDE5LjU3NjYgMy4wNzQ3OSAyMC42Njg5IDQuMTA4OEMyMS40MzcxIDQuODM3NTggMjIuMDM0NCA2LjgyMjk2IDIwLjMxNDggOC4wMjUwOEwxMy42NjY1IDEyLjY2MzZaIiBmaWxsPSIjMUU5Q0Q4Ii8+CjwvZz4KPGRlZnM+CjxjbGlwUGF0aCBpZD0iY2xpcDBfMzczXzI2ODciPgo8cmVjdCB3aWR0aD0iMjQiIGhlaWdodD0iMTMuODY2NyIgZmlsbD0id2hpdGUiLz4KPC9jbGlwUGF0aD4KPC9kZWZzPgo8L3N2Zz4K\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get exclusive reporting, live Q&amp;As and ad-free reading.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-4cbf86\" class=\"body-graf\">Video verified by NBC News showed at least a dozen stationary Waymo vehicles, many Jaguar I-PACE models, lined up on a street following a city and county-sponsored fireworks display from the Golden Gate Bridge.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-b88ec7\" class=\"body-graf\">Another video showed more vehicles at a standstill at an intersection filled with people. One of the vehicles was on a flatbed truck.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-196adf\" class=\"body-graf\">The company noted that there was heavy traffic in the area following fireworks celebrations.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-64014b\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cMajor traffic disruptions, a high volume of travelers, and unplanned road closures contributed to unexpected congestion,\u201d a company spokesperson said in a statement. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a21ab5\" class=\"body-graf\">The spokesperson said Waymo\u2019s roadside assistance team worked to clear the vehicles, adding that the company is \u201cevaluating ways to strengthen Waymo\u2019s resilience in major traffic disruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-afe33f\" class=\"body-graf\">Rose Peterson told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcbayarea.com\/news\/local\/sf-fireworks-show-gridlock-waymo-cars\/4109219\/\" target=\"_blank\">NBC Bay Area<\/a> she was in a Waymo ride leaving the area when the car kept driving while someone lit fireworks on the street.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-768449\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cWe 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\u2019re like, \u2018Wait, what\u2019s happening?\u2019,\u201d she said, adding that no one inside the car was hurt.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8604ef\" class=\"body-graf\">Dave Guingona told the station he spent nearly two hours in standstill traffic until a number of Waymo vehicles were cleared from a roadway.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-bdc655\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cWe realized people were getting out of their cars, yelling and screaming at these Waymos because there were no drivers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-6355b4\" class=\"body-graf\">A Waymo vehicle caught fire after it drove over fireworks that someone had set off, according to the company, which said no injuries reported.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c128f9\" class=\"body-graf\">In December, Waymo briefly paused service in San Francisco following an electricity outage that affected more than 100,000 customers and caused some traffic lights to go dark. Some of its vehicles stopped at intersections that had nonworking traffic lights, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcbayarea.com\/news\/local\/san-francisco\/waymo-service-suspended-power-outage-sf\/4001389\/\" target=\"_blank\">NBC Bay Area reported.<\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-4cab10\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1667\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260405-waymo-san-francisco-ww-1957-caebf9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260405-waymo-san-francisco-ww-1957-caebf9.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260405-waymo-san-francisco-ww-1957-caebf9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260405-waymo-san-francisco-ww-1957-caebf9.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260405-waymo-san-francisco-ww-1957-caebf9.jpg\" alt=\"A self-driving car sits stalled in traffic during a power outage. \" height=\"1667\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Waymo driverless cars stalled during a major power outage in San Francisco last year.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Tayfun Coskun \/ Anadolu via Getty Images file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-919b73\" class=\"body-graf\">Mayor Daniel Lurie has been an advocate for the brand of autonomous vehicles, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcbayarea.com\/news\/local\/san-francisco-market-street-waymo\/3841604\/\" target=\"_blank\">saying last year<\/a> that they\u2019re \u201csafe and sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-167c38\" class=\"body-graf\">On Saturday night, he warned motorists about the post-fireworks traffic in the city.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-cfde21\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cFog and fireworks, we did it the San Francisco way,\u201d Lurie said in <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DanielLurie\/status\/2073641267486204259\" target=\"_blank\">a video statement<\/a> posted to X. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take a while for these clogged streets to empty out. Give each other some grace as we clear out San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8db380\" class=\"body-graf\">The city\u2019s Department of Emergency Management warned of \u201cheavy traffic and crowded transit\u201d following the displays and urged people to wait to head home where possible.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-18448d\" class=\"body-graf\">The mayor\u2019s press secretary, Charles Lutvak, said Lurie\u2019s office will have talks with stakeholders about Saturday night\u2019s traffic.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-dc8496\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">\u201cWe 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,\u201d Lutvak said by email Sunday night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Several Waymo vehicles had to be towed away after the company said their batteries died while they were stuck in heavy San Francisco traffic amid Fourth of July celebrations. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&amp;As and ad-free reading. Video verified by NBC News showed at least a dozen&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260705-san-francisco-waymo-stranded-rc-1142p-a8b951.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}