Self-Driving Cars Block First Responders: NHTSA Issues Warning
Original: Self-Driving Cars Are Interfering With First Responders. Feds Aren’t Happy
Why This Matters
Federal regulatory pressure on AV safety could reshape deployment standards and liability frameworks industry-wide.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a formal letter on July 9, 2026, calling autonomous vehicle interference with first responders 'unacceptable,' documenting a 'clear pattern' of incidents involving Waymo and others blocking ambulances and firefighters at active emergency scenes.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a formal warning letter to autonomous vehicle (AV) developers on July 9, 2026, stating that driverless cars interfering with emergency responders is 'unacceptable.' Morrison documented a 'clear pattern' of incidents in which AVs drove into active emergency scenes, blocked ambulances and fire trucks, and failed to respond to flashing lights, fire, and traffic cones. He directed companies to 'immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue' and announced NHTSA would schedule meetings with each developer by the end of July to hear proposed solutions.
Earlier in 2026, officials from multiple city law enforcement and fire departments told NHTSA in a closed-door meeting that Waymo robotaxis were impeding emergency responses. San Francisco's fire chief stated Waymo vehicles were 'frequently blocking fire station access.' Austin police noted the vehicles freeze in difficult situations and fail to respond to hand signals. In one notable incident, a Waymo blocked an ambulance for two minutes during a downtown Austin mass shooting that killed three and injured at least 14.
NHTSA has previously issued recalls related to Waymo's behavior near flooded roads and construction zones, and Zoox robotaxis stopping in front of oncoming traffic — both resolved via software updates. Neither Waymo nor Zoox responded to WIRED's request for comment.