Following a major traffic jam caused by Waymo’s self-driving taxis, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for stricter rules governing the city's autonomous vehicles. The incident left thousands of people stranded during July 4 festivities.

Lurie wrote to state regulators asking them to establish new standards that would require companies like Waymo to remove or relocate their vehicles from active lanes and share real-time data with local agencies. He said these measures are needed to ensure reliable service even during extraordinary events.

The mayor’s push for stricter regulations comes as San Francisco remains a key testing ground for autonomous vehicle technology, with six companies holding driverless permits in the city. However, Lurie argues that current frameworks don't adequately address how such vehicles should operate during major incidents or planned events like fireworks shows.

Waymo's success in the Bay Area has made it a focal point for regulators; the company now operates in 11 cities and completes over 500,000 paid rides weekly. However, Lurie believes that voluntary actions are no longer sufficient as Waymo’s fleet expands.

The new requirements could potentially be a turning point for how autonomous vehicles operate in urban areas, setting a precedent for other cities grappling with similar challenges.