Drivers working for ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft staged a protest against Waymo's self-driving taxis in San Francisco on Friday, 9th January 2026. The demonstration urged state regulators to impose stricter oversight on autonomous vehicles, citing a series of recent incidents involving the robotaxis.
Protesters Demand Accountability and Safer Streets
Approximately two dozen drivers and their supporters gathered outside the offices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). They held signs and spoke out, calling for greater accountability and safer streets as the commission met to consider further regulations for the autonomous vehicle industry. A steady stream of Waymo's distinctive white vehicles passed the demonstration, highlighting their increasing presence in the city.
Joseph Augusto, who drives for both Uber and Lyft, expressed a common sentiment among the protesters. "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 Catalogue of Safety Incidents Fuels Anger
The protest was galvanised by several high-profile events involving Waymo vehicles. Just days before Christmas, a mass power outage in San Francisco left multiple Waymo cars immobilised and blocking streets, forcing the company to pause its service. This raised serious questions about the vehicles' ability to adapt to unpredictable real-world conditions.
In a separate incident in September, a Waymo robotaxi performed an illegal U-turn directly in front of a sign prohibiting the manoeuvre. San Bruno police were unable to issue a ticket as there was no human driver to hold responsible. The protest also referenced a tragic event in October, where a Waymo vehicle struck and killed a beloved neighbourhood cat named Kit Kat.
Augusto described the chaotic scene during the December power outage, stating he saw Waymo cars stalled at intersections as pedestrians weaved around them. "There were a lot of Waymos around. Just randomly all over the city and there’s no plan," he recounted.
Regulatory Crossroads for Autonomous Vehicles
The California Public Utilities Commission, which also regulates Uber and Lyft, is in the process of refining and expanding its policies around autonomous robotaxis as the industry expands. The California Gig Workers Union has taken a firm stance, arguing that these vehicles should be removed from public roads until all safety concerns are thoroughly addressed.
Neither the CPUC nor Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet (Google's parent company), provided an immediate comment in response to the protest and the associated requests. The demonstration underscores the growing tension between technological innovation, regulatory frameworks, and the livelihoods of traditional gig economy workers.
