In California, due to fire and accidents, the introduction of driverless cars was suspended

Waymo's self-driving car tests have sparked controversy among San Francisco locals. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

California has blocked a Google-backed self-driving car company after a series of accidents.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has put on hold a request from Google parent company Waymo to launch its robotaxi business in more cities in the state.

Rival Waymo and Cruise have operated in San Francisco for years. Waymo was seeking approval to expand into Los Angeles and the San Francisco Peninsula.

However, David Canepa, a local politician in San Mateo County, California, said his bid was stalled due to what he called Waymo's failure to engage in a «meaningful» discussion about «our very real public safety issues.»

This follows public opposition to self-driving cars and a string of accidents.

Waymo recently admitted that two of its vehicles crashed into a towed pickup truck due to a software glitch. The company is also under investigation for a collision between a self-driving car and a cyclist on February 6 that resulted in minor injuries.

The company said the cyclist was hidden from view by the truck and his vehicle. «could not avoid» collision.

In October, competitor Waymo Cruise suspended all self-driving operations after a serious crash left a woman pinned under the steering wheel of one of its vehicles.

In addition to crashes , local residents blame self-driving cars for causing traffic jams due to apparently erratic driving and braking.

Protesters have begun placing traffic cones on the hoods of vehicles to confuse self-driving sensors. . In one case, a Waymo taxi was set on fire in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Mr Canepa told TechCrunch: «With Waymo freezing any meaningful discussions about its expansion plans in Silicon Valley, the CPUC has put the brakes on its application for virtually unfettered testing robotaxi services in both San Mateo and Los Angeles counties.

“This will provide an opportunity to fully engage the autonomous vehicle manufacturer in solving our very real public safety problems that have caused all sorts of dangerous situations for firefighters and police in nearby San Francisco.»

Waymo's request will now be subject to a new review, and any expansion will be delayed until at least June. Waymo said the decision was «procedural» and part of the regulator's «rigorous review process.»