Waymo vehicles stranded after road-closure miscommunication hampers July 4 traffic in San Francisco
A lack of notification about a Presidio road closure left several Waymo autonomous cars stuck during the July 4 celebrations, prompting city officials to review coordination for future large events.
Heavy congestion erupted in San Francisco's Presidio on the evening of July 4 as thousands gathered for fireworks that were largely obscured by fog. Traffic on Girard Road halted around 8:30 p.m., and a roundabout on Lincoln Boulevard became clogged with Waymo autonomous vehicles that could not navigate the crowded pedestrian flow. Park police redirected traffic, and some Waymo cars later required towing after depleting their batteries.
City officials said the crowd size and traffic conditions were "unprecedented" for the city. The mayor’s office, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Presidio Trust have begun reviewing how to better coordinate with private partners, including autonomous-vehicle operators, for future large-scale events.
Waymo confirmed it had not received notice of the Presidio road closures, which were announced by the Presidio Trust on July 2 but omitted from the mayor’s and SFMTA’s public notices. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office declined to comment on preparedness, but issued a statement noting that public safety was the top priority and that the city would discuss improvements with public and private partners.
Mayor Daniel Lurie visited the Marina District the following day to highlight local businesses that benefited from the event’s crowds.
