San Francisco streets turned chaotic when a convoy of driverless cars from Waymo blocked the motorcade of Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris, returning to the city for a fundraiser, had to deal with an unexpected traffic issue—autonomous vehicles stalled directly in her path.
The incident happened near the city’s Mission District. According to witnesses, the motorcade, tasked with moving Vice President Kamala Harris smoothly through the streets, came to a complete halt as several autonomous cars refused to move. Frustration built quickly as authorities struggled to manage the bizarre roadblock.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said one local resident who watched the events unfold. “The cars just stopped, and nobody could figure out how to get them moving again.”
The gridlock started as the Cruise vehicles appeared confused by the road’s temporary changes. With no drivers inside, the cars failed to navigate the redirected motorcade route, creating a logistical nightmare for security teams.
San Francisco has long been a testing ground for autonomous vehicles, but this incident raises questions about their reliability in high-stakes scenarios. The delayed motorcade eventually resumed once the cars were manually cleared from the area.
Cruise, the company responsible for the self-driving vehicles, stated they are investigating the matter. They acknowledged the issue, citing unexpected traffic conditions as a likely cause.
The spectacle sparked concerns over whether self-driving technology is ready for unpredictable city events. As driverless cars become more common, incidents like this highlight the challenges they still face.
