Waymo Suspends Highway Service for Robotaxi Fleet
Waymo has decided to temporarily halt highway service in several U.S. markets for its robotaxi service, primarily to address performance issues at construction sites. This information was confirmed by FOX Business.
The company, which is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., announced on Thursday that it will pause highway operations while it updates its software. A spokesperson for Waymo emphasized that safety remains the utmost priority for the firm. They stated, “As we work to integrate recent technical learnings into our software, we have temporarily suspended service on our motorways and these routes will be reinstated shortly.”
It’s worth noting that the suspension affects highway driving only, so on-street operations will continue as usual.
Waymo Expands Self-Driving Services
Waymo claimed its vehicles encounter construction zones over 10,000 times daily. The company utilizes these pauses effectively to refine the performance of its robotaxis on highways.
This announcement came right after Waymo had temporarily halted operations in Atlanta due to flash flooding. They’ve been working on improving performance in and around construction sites and flooded areas since then.
Earlier reports indicated that a Waymo vehicle faced flooding conditions in Atlanta, which led to one vehicle needing retrieval while others remained on standby.
Recent Recall Issues
The temporary suspension also follows a recall of 3,791 Waymo vehicles that are equipped with fifth- and sixth-generation self-driving systems. NHTSA reported that water-related software issues could potentially lead to a loss of vehicle control. This recall was spurred by an incident on April 20, where an unoccupied Waymo vehicle detected a flooded roadway and slowed down.
Interestingly, NHTSA indicated that while Waymo’s robotaxis may slow down when nearing a puddle on the highway, they might not completely stop even if they sense potential danger.
This recall involved all affected vehicles, which are estimated to have a defect rate of 100%. Waymo has implemented interim relief for these vehicles and altered their operational guidelines to avoid flooded highways, but they are still working on a final solution.
Waymo’s service area spans several large cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.
