Waymo Suspends Operations in San Antonio Following Flood Incident
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Waymo, a self-driving taxi service owned by Alphabet Inc., has temporarily halted its operations in San Antonio after one of its unmanned vehicles was swept away during low tide at an intersection on Monday night. This suspension comes at an inconvenient time, as the city is currently amid its bustling “Fiesta” celebration.
The company acted quickly, stopping all services right after the vehicle was lost to the floodwaters. This incident marks the second time Waymo has faced a flood-related issue in San Antonio, and notably, it’s the first occurrence where one of its vehicles has been carried off by flooding.
Since Sunday, San Antonio and its surrounding regions have experienced heavy rainfall, accumulating about 4 to 6 inches. This has resulted in flash flooding in various low-lying areas and led to numerous road closures. Local authorities are reportedly not involved in the recovery of the vehicle, and details about the incident remain scarce, as police have not provided additional information. Waymo has yet to reveal exactly where the event took place or comment on its cause.
According to the company’s website, their robotaxis have been statistically shown to cause significantly fewer crashes compared to human drivers. Waymo states that its self-driving vehicles have experienced 92% fewer serious injuries, 83% fewer airbag deployments during crashes, and 82% fewer injuries from accidents than those operated by humans over equivalent distances in cities where they function.
In another recent incident, an unmanned Waymo vehicle unexpectedly halted during a mass shooting in Austin on March 1, obstructing emergency response. Austin police had to enter the car to relocate it and allow access for first responders.
All self-driving vehicles in Texas must be licensed by the Department of Transportation. A legislative measure, Senate Bill 2807, which was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2025, aims to impose penalties for unsafe operations. This law is set to take effect in May 2026, which might create challenges for companies running commercial autonomous taxi services in the state.
Per the Texas Department of Transportation, once a commercial entity is authorized to operate a self-driving vehicle, it is required to ensure safe operation in line with public safety standards. Beginning on May 28, 2026, any hazardous work leading to concerns over personal safety can be reported to the Department’s Enforcement Division for evaluation.
If a vehicle is found to be operating unsafely or poses a danger to the public, those who operate unmanned vehicles may face suspension from commercial activities or loss of their license. The owner of the vehicle would then be classified as a “licensed operator” and would bear the responsibility for traffic law enforcement within the state.
