“Our Streets Are Not Testing Grounds,” Uber and Lyft Driver Warns of Danger as Waymo Vehicles Stall During Power Outages

San Francisco, CA – Following reports of Waymo autonomous vehicles being stalled and stuck in traffic during yesterday’s power outage, Uber and Lyft drivers are speaking out raising urgent concerns about public safety and emergency access. The incident has intensified calls for stronger oversight, greater transparency, and immediate accountability when autonomous vehicle operations put communities at risk.

The following statement was released by Joseph Augusto, a San Francisco resident, Uber and Lyft driver, and member of California Gig Workers Union:

“As a full-time Uber driver, the streets are my workplace. I’m out there day and night, in all conditions, responsible for the safety of my passengers and myself. That’s why seeing Waymo autonomous vehicles frozen in place during a power outage is deeply alarming and unacceptable.

“When the power goes out, chaos follows: traffic signals fail, visibility drops, and emergency crews rush to respond. In those moments, the last thing our streets need is driverless vehicles blocking lanes, stopping in unsafe locations, or creating confusion that puts lives at risk. These situations aren’t theoretical to me. I live here and I’m there when they happen. I’m the one navigating around stuck vehicles while trying to keep passengers calm and avoid accidents.

“Human drivers are held accountable when we make mistakes. We’re ticketed, suspended, or taken off the road. Autonomous vehicles should be held to at least the same standard – if not a higher one -because when they fail, no one is behind the wheel to take responsibility in real time.

“I respect the work the DMV and the CPUC have done to regulate autonomous vehicles, but what we’re seeing on the streets proves that’s not enough. The mayor, Board of Supervisors, and local city and county agencies need immediate access to clear, transparent safety data and real authority to act when these vehicles create dangerous situations. Communities should not have to wait for a serious injury or loss of life before action is taken.

“Public safety must be prioritized over corporate experimentation. If Waymo vehicles can’t operate safely during emergencies like power outages, their permits should be suspended until they can prove, without question, that they won’t put drivers, passengers, pedestrians, or first responders in harm’s way.

“We’re calling for Waymo’s autonomous vehicles to be immediately taken off our streets until an independent investigation is completed and Waymo can prove this safety problem has been fixed. This investigation should be made public and our communities must have the opportunity to review and examine how

• Waymo’s systems made decisions during the December 20th power outage
• Whether remote support or emergency backup systems worked as they were supposed to
• How the vehicles respond when power is lost or traffic signals stop working
• And how these failures affected emergency responders, road workers, and overall public safety

“Our streets are not testing grounds. They are lifelines. And right now, too many people are being put at risk.”