Drivers for ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have staged a protest in San Francisco, calling for tighter controls on the growing fleet of self-driving robotaxis operated by Waymo.
Protest Demands Safer Streets and Fair Rules
The demonstration took place on Friday, 10 January 2026, outside the offices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Approximately two dozen drivers and supporters gathered, holding signs that advocated for safer streets and greater accountability for autonomous vehicle companies. Their protest coincided with a CPUC meeting set to discuss further regulations for the sector.
Joseph Augusto, a driver who works for both Uber and Lyft, voiced the core grievance. "I personally am not against technology; what I am against is unfair treatment," he said. "We have these people, these companies, these autonomous vehicle companies who are driving around the city, and they don’t seem to be held to the same standards as us drivers."
A Series of Incidents Fuel Safety Concerns
The protest was galvanised by several recent events involving Waymo's autonomous vehicles:
- During a mass power outage in San Francisco days before Christmas, multiple immobilised Waymo cars blocked streets, forcing the company to pause its service.
- In September 2025, a Waymo vehicle performed an illegal U-turn directly in front of a sign prohibiting the manoeuvre. Police could not issue a ticket as there was no human driver.
- In October, a Waymo robotaxi struck and killed a well-known neighbourhood cat named Kit Kat.
Augusto described the chaotic scene during the December blackout, noting "There were a lot of Waymos around. Just randomly all over the city and there’s no plan." A continuous stream of the distinctive white vehicles passed the protest, highlighting their expanding presence in the city.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Industry Response
The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates both Uber/Lyft and autonomous passenger services, is in the process of refining its policies for robotaxis. The California Gig Workers Union has taken a firm stance, arguing the vehicles should be removed from public roads until safety issues are fully resolved.
Neither the CPUC nor Waymo – which is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet – provided an immediate comment in response to the protest. The demonstration underscores the mounting tension between human drivers and the accelerating rollout of autonomous technology, raising critical questions about safety protocols and regulatory parity in the evolving transport landscape.
