Waymo’s robotaxis stall and catch fire on July 4th
Waymo’s driverless cars had a rough Fourth of July. In San Francisco they ran out of charge, blocked traffic for hours, and one drove over a lit firework and caught fire.
Details of the Incident
July 7, 2026 – 6:39 pm
Image by: Han Zheng
Over the holiday weekend, driverless Waymo cars became more of a spectacle than the technology itself. In San Francisco, dozens stalled in the gridlock after the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks. Several ran out of battery, leading to tow trucks being called (NBC Bay Area reports). One resident shared that he sat in traffic for two hours with people climbing out of their cars to yell at the empty vehicles.
"Are we on fire, dude?"
Things got more unusual when at least two Waymos drove over fireworks lit in the road. One caught fire on Connecticut Street (CBS News reports), captured on video by a passenger, Rose Peterson. In her clip, shared by Mashable, a rider asks, "Are we on fire, dude?" Waymo later confirmed there were no injuries or damage and has reached out to the rider.
San Francisco fire crews fielded over 500 calls that night. Similar issues were reported in Atlanta where drivers recorded themselves stuck behind three Waymos frozen at an intersection—the latest in a series of viral clips from the city.
Company Response
Waymo attributed the incidents to severe congestion, a surge of travelers, and unplanned road closures near the fireworks. Some cars drove off once traffic cleared while others ran flat while idling, leading to towing. No injuries or damage were reported, with the company emphasizing that the vehicles remained fully autonomous throughout.
Context and Implications
Critics argue that these recurring issues are significant, stating that stalled fleets and cars driving into hazards would ground a bus line. They call for the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and city regulators to set strict benchmarks before expanding these fleets.
Waymo counters by highlighting its leadership in driverless miles and safety records. Supporters also note that their per-mile safety record still surpasses human drivers.
The timing is unfortunate as Waymo competes against rivals like Zoox and others who are making strides, while simultaneously dropping human safety monitors in their robotaxis. As Peterson put it, "the car should be ‘more sensitive of anything that can come into the path of the road.’"