Waymo faces political and safety obstacles in Los Angeles

Localized regulatory pushback

Waymo faces political friction in Los Angeles as Mayor Karen Bass and City Council members push for tighter regulations on autonomous expansion. Mayor Karen Bass sent a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission stating that local jurisdictions have had little input in autonomous vehicle deployment. She noted an August 3 incident where a Waymo car failed to stop for a traffic officer at Beaudry Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard. The vehicle initially stopped and then attempted to go around the officer despite signals to halt. This local pushback follows moves in San Diego where the City Council voted 8-0 on September 14 to urge state lawmakers to return authority over autonomous vehicles to cities. The resolution in San Diego asks state leaders to change the regulatory structure so local governments can have a direct role. The city also seeks stronger emergency-response powers for police and fire departments to track or move empty autonomous vehicles during emergencies. San Diego’s airport authority also wants to prevent autonomous passenger vehicles from operating at San Diego International Airport, as the airport identified autonomous vehicles as a policy issue in its 2026 legislative priorities. The motion by Soto-Martinez, Raman, Padilla, and Hutt will move to the Transportation Committee and the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee in November. Will local interference in airport access and emergency response override state-level approvals for robotaxi expansion?

Regulatory probes and fleet safety

Safety vulnerabilities and regulatory probes jeopardize Waymo’s ability to maintain its fleet of 2,000 vehicles. Waymo recalled 1,212 vehicles to mitigate collision risks with roadway barriers following a federal investigation into its fifth-generation automated driving system. This recall affects vehicles equipped with the company’s advanced driving system software. A separate June recall involved 4,000 robotaxis because a software issue allowed vehicles to enter closed freeway construction zones. These safety concerns arrive as Tesla begins offering public rides in its Cybercab, a vehicle which lacks a steering wheel, rearview mirrors, or foot pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe into the technical data Tesla used to self-certify its 1,000 estimated vehicles after the company launched the Cybercab in Austin without filing a request for a federal exemption. Waymo’s expansion in Los Angeles includes Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the entire stretch of Sunset Boulevard. Adam Lane, a state and local policy manager for Waymo, stated the company had completed thousands of safe trips and cited data showing 94% fewer serious-injury crashes compared to human drivers. Waymo has 1,000 vehicles registered in Texas, while the Tesla fleet stood at 420 robotaxis as of last Wednesday. Waymo’s current fleet provides more than 250,000 rides weekly across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.

Labor and minor safety complaints

Labor disputes and passenger safety complaints create ongoing legal risks for Waymo’s Los Angeles operations. The California Gig Workers Union filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission alleging that Waymo violated operating permits by transporting unaccompanied minors. Current rules from a 2020 CPUC decision prohibit riders under 18 from traveling alone in autonomous vehicles. Teamsters Local 399 and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor held a rally outside Google headquarters to protest expansion into Santa Monica and Venice. Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez, joined by Nithya Raman, Imelda Padilla, and Heather Hutt, introduced a motion calling on the city attorney to join a lawsuit against state regulators. He argued that safety incidents including crashes and congestion are becoming the norm. Waymo is under federal investigation for a crash outside of a Santa Monica elementary school where a blue sedan traveling between 47mph and 50mph hit a pedestrian, and the Waymo vehicle then struck that pedestrian while it moved at 27mph on Venice Boulevard. The company also faces 191 recorded incidents in Los Angeles compared to 134 in Austin. The current restriction on unaccompanied minors remains in effect while broader rulemaking continues. You should monitor how these labor concerns impact the rollout of service in areas like Playa del Rey and Echo Park.