Los Angeles Utilizes Robotaxis to Tackle Pothole Issues

Los Angeles is looking toward robotaxis as a solution for its dilapidated roads. Years of wear and tear coupled with slow repairs have led drivers to dodge numerous hazards on the city’s extensive network of roads.

In an innovative move, Waymo has teamed up with Waze for a pilot program that employs self-driving cars to detect potholes and relay that information to city officials. This partnership is aimed at addressing the city’s ongoing pothole crisis.

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will be equipped to identify damaged roadways and contribute data to Waze’s traffic-sharing platform. This will not only help highlight problematic areas but also alert drivers about upcoming rough patches, according to a press statement.

This initiative comes on the heels of increased complaints about potholes following a rainy season that caused significant flooding in Southern California.

In January alone, residents reported over 6,700 potholes, and complaints continued with nearly 5,000 additional reports in February and March, based on data from a nonprofit group.

City officials are struggling to keep up with repairs across Los Angeles’ vast 33,000-mile road system. As noted, only 310 miles were repaired during the 2025 fiscal year, a stark decline from the nearly 850 miles resurfaced in 2015. The previous year’s total wasn’t much better, with just 346 miles repaved.

The City Services Department, responsible for road maintenance, is already in talks with Waymo regarding the pilot program, as stated by spokesman Dan Halden. “We actively manage the city’s roads, ensuring they are not just repaired but also enhanced to prevent future issues,” he mentioned.

Reliance on residents alone to report potholes via the 311 system tends to overlook many problems, officials admit. Waymo and Waze hope this program will give a fuller picture of road conditions and enable quicker responses to deteriorating pavement.

Currently, the pilot is being tested in five metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, and has already identified around 500 potholes. Plans are in place to extend this technology to colder regions, where road conditions can rapidly deteriorate due to freezing and thawing cycles.

“Collaborating in this way benefits communities and enhances road conditions for everyone,” remarked Andrew Stover, Waze’s strategic partner manager, in a news release.