Watch: Waymo Vehicle Tries to Pass CHP Cruiser During San Francisco Traffic Break
What to Know
- A motorist's video shows a Waymo vehicle trying to pass two California Highway Patrol cruisers during a San Francisco traffick break.
- The driverless vehicle is seen quickly approaching two CHP cruisers tailing what appears to be a Caltrans truck before the units blocked the Waymo’s path.
- During a traffic break—a maneuver to slow down traffic in the Bay Area—vehicles must slow down and keep a safe distance from CHP cruisers.
As the Waymo approaches, the pair of CHP vehicles block its path, forcing it to switch lanes and slow down, according to the video.
CHP appeared to be doing a traffic break, a frequently used maneuver to slow down traffic on Bay Area freeways. In those instances, cars must slow down and keep a safe distance from CHP vehicles.
The circumstances behind the traffic-calming measure and the incident remained unclear Wednesday. CHP did not immediately return a request for comment. Waymo also did not immediately return a request for comment.
Waymo began to offer some Bay Area riders trips on freeways, including I-280, in November 2025. The company temporarily paused freeway service after some of its vehicles entered construction zones, then restarted service this past summer.
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