Fire chief warns against ‘unleashing’ self-driving taxis in San Francisco

Driverless cars are becoming a nuisance for the department as they appear to obstruct fire engines and block roads in emergencies

Amid a rush to get more robotaxis on the roads of California’s largest cities, the fire chief in San Francisco has warned the vehicles are “not ready for primetime”, citing multiple recent incidents of the vehicles obstructing fire engines and blocking roads during emergencies.

Driverless cars have become a growing nuisance for San Francisco’s residents and officials alike. Of particular concern for police and firefighters is the unwelcome appearance of robotaxis at the scene of an emergency that hinders their work.