San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for greater regulation of autonomous taxi companies after a notorious hours-long gridlock event brought the city's roads to a standstill. The incident, which was attributed in part to an untested software glitch, left many commuters stranded and frustrated.
The mayor's office cited concerns about public safety as a primary driver behind the request for stricter oversight. "We have a critical infrastructure that relies on reliable transportation services," Lurie said in a statement. "Autonomous vehicles pose unique risks that we need to be mindful of." The mayor emphasized that San Francisco has already implemented several measures to ensure public safety, including regular software updates and robust testing procedures.
Waymo, the self-driving taxi service backed by Google, had been operating in the city as recently as last year. While it's unclear how the company handled the incident, Waymo officials have acknowledged that they are taking steps to address regulatory compliance concerns. As San Francisco continues to push for more stringent regulations on autonomous vehicles, the mayor and other stakeholders are working to ensure public safety while also promoting innovation in the industry.