If a driverless car is creating immediate danger or blocking emergency responders, call 911 and give the dispatcher the exact location and what is obstructed. For a non-emergency safety concern in the United States, submit a complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or call its Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. If it happened on a California public road, you can also submit the state DMV’s AV Incident Form.
Who do I call about a blocked road?
Choose the route according to how urgent the obstruction is and what you need: immediate help clearing a live hazard, a safety complaint for agency review, or a local response. These channels serve different purposes; after calling 911 for an urgent incident, you may also file a safety complaint.
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| Situation | Who to contact | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger, or emergency access blocked | 911 | Request an emergency response. The National 911 Program says to call 911 for an emergency; emergency assistance is not available through its website. National 911 Program |
| Non-immediate automated-vehicle safety issue in the United States | NHTSA complaint route or Vehicle Safety Hotline, 888-327-4236 | Report a safety issue involving an automated vehicle. NHTSA says anyone who witnesses one may report it. NHTSA automated-vehicle safety reporting |
| Incident involving an autonomous vehicle on a California public road | California DMV AV Incident Form; NHTSA is also an option | Submit a state incident report or safety concern. California DMV AV Incident Form and DMV reporting information |
| Non-emergency local traffic or road obstruction | Confirm the local jurisdiction, then use its police non-emergency number, transportation department, or municipal service-request channel | Ask the local authority responsible for the location about a local response. The correct channel varies by city and county. |
When a driverless car blocking the street is an emergency
Call 911 if the vehicle creates an immediate hazard or is interfering with an ambulance, fire crew, or other emergency response. Tell the dispatcher where the vehicle is and what access or traffic movement it is blocking. Do not wait to submit an online safety complaint when responders need to reach the scene.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NHTSA said on July 8, 2026, that it had documented driverless vehicles blocking ambulances and firefighters and failing to respond to conditions including flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said: “Every second matters when law enforcement officers, firefighters, or paramedics are answering a call because lives are on the line.” NHTSA’s July 8, 2026 statement
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How do I report a driverless car blocking traffic?
For a non-immediate U.S. safety concern, use NHTSA’s public complaint route or call 888-327-4236. NHTSA’s public route is for witnesses as well as people directly involved. A stopped vehicle that obstructs traffic can be reported as an AV safety issue; do not describe an obstruction as a crash if no collision occurred.
If the incident happened in California
Submit the California DMV AV Incident Form for an incident or safety concern involving an autonomous vehicle operating on a California public road. The DMV also points reporters to NHTSA’s complaint form and hotline. Do not include Social Security numbers, driver’s-license numbers, or financial-account numbers in the DMV report. California DMV AV Incident Form DMV reporting information
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If the incident happened elsewhere
NHTSA is the federal route described here. A city or county may separately handle a live non-emergency obstruction through its police non-emergency line, transportation department, or municipal service-request system. Confirm which jurisdiction covers the street before choosing a local contact; the right channel cannot be identified without the incident’s location.
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Report what you can observe without putting yourself in traffic or approaching the vehicle. A clear location and a concrete description of the obstruction help the recipient understand the impact.
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- Location: Street address or intersection, nearby landmark, and the vehicle’s direction of travel.
- What is blocked: Identify the lane, crosswalk, bike lane, transit lane, or emergency access route affected.
- Immediate impact: Say whether anyone is injured, whether there was a collision, or whether responders are delayed.
- Duration and changes: Tell them how long the car has been stopped and whether it has moved or created another hazard.
- Vehicle identification, if safely visible: Give a legible fleet or operator name, vehicle description, or plate. Do not approach to get these details.
Stay out of traffic, do not touch, enter, or try to move the vehicle, and follow dispatcher instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does NHTSA’s crash-reporting order apply to people who witness an obstruction?
No. NHTSA’s Standing General Order requires specified manufacturers, developers, and operators to report certain qualifying crashes. It is not a consumer form for every obstruction, and its reporting requirements concern crashes that meet defined injury or property-damage conditions. A witness can still submit a safety complaint directly to NHTSA about an automated vehicle. NHTSA safety reporting Standing General Order information
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First responders can encounter automated driving systems during emergency responses, traffic direction, abandoned-vehicle investigations, and crash-scene management. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services discusses direct, indirect, and informational interactions in its guidance. DOJ COPS Office guidance Its 2025 publication reports a survey of 378 law-enforcement and first-responder agency members; that is a study-method detail, not a count of blocked-road incidents. DOJ COPS Office publication
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