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Waymo Halts Robotaxis Amid Flood Warning, Resumes Safely

12/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

Waymo temporarily halted its driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco on Christmas due to a flash flood warning, and it resumed operations after confirming safety.
The pause followed a prior blackout that affected 130,000 customers and caused traffic disruptions as Waymo vehicles struggled at non-functioning signals.
The California regulator is examining the robotaxis' behavior during the blackout.
Waymo aims to enhance coordination with city officials and improve emergency preparedness.

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Story summary

Waymo temporarily halted its driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco on Christmas due to a flash flood warning, and it resumed operations after confirming safety.
The pause followed a prior blackout that affected 130,000 customers and caused traffic disruptions as Waymo vehicles struggled at non-functioning signals.
The California regulator is examining the robotaxis' behavior during the blackout.
Waymo aims to enhance coordination with city officials and improve emergency preparedness.