Waymo has announced a recall of its nearly 4,000 robotaxis to prevent them from entering highway construction zones. This decision follows the identification of at least 13 incidents where the vehicles drove into areas closed for construction.
Among these incidents, six occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, in April, while seven were reported in San Francisco, California, in May. As a precaution, Waymo halted all freeway operations on May 19, with a software fix currently under development.
In a statement, Waymo acknowledged the need for improvement in their vehicles' performance around construction zones. The company proactively notified state and federal regulators and filed a voluntary software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
This marks the sixth recall for Waymo's robotaxis. Previous recalls addressed issues such as driving into flooded roads and illegal maneuvers around school buses. The NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the driving software after a serious incident involving a child near a school in January.
Waymo's autonomous vehicles have reportedly traveled over 170 million miles, claiming a significant reduction in serious accidents compared to human drivers. However, the recent expansion of services, including plans to launch in over 20 cities this year, has highlighted challenges in the software, particularly in complex driving environments like highway construction zones.
In mid-April, Waymo's software failed to recognize ramp closure signs, leading to unauthorized entries into construction zones in Phoenix. Following a review, the company's Field Safety Committee restricted freeway operations while a solution was developed. On May 18, another incident occurred in San Francisco when seven robotaxis entered active construction lanes due to software prioritizing avoidance of other hazards.
Footage of these incidents circulated on social media, prompting public concern. In one instance, a user reported witnessing a Waymo robotaxi speeding through cones while being pursued by police.
