SF Standard – Waymo suspends all freeway rides over safety issues
The pause comes after the robotaxi company also recalled thousands of vehicles to address issues where some drove into flooded roadways they couldn’t traverse.
See original article by Garrett Leahy at SF Standard\
Waymo has paused all freeway service as it updates software to help its cars better navigate construction zones on freeways, the robotaxi company said.
Before its suspension, freeway rides were available only in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami.
Waymo did not cite a specific incident or confirm any performance issues near freeway construction zones, but on Monday, X user @Elliot_slade posted a video claiming a Waymo he was riding in blasted through construction cones on a freeway and was subsequently chased by police.
Waymo has paused all freeway service as it updates software to help its cars better navigate construction zones on freeways, the robotaxi company said.
Before its suspension, freeway rides were available only in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami.
Waymo did not cite a specific incident or confirm any performance issues near freeway construction zones, but on Monday, X user @Elliot_slade posted a video claiming a Waymo he was riding in blasted through construction cones on a freeway and was subsequently chased by police.
The freeway service pause comes as the company has also paused service in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The temporary pause in service follows incidents in Georgia and Texas where Waymos entered flooded roadways(opens in new tab) they were unable to traverse. In San Antonio, a Waymo was swept away(opens in new tab) after driving into floodwaters last month, prompting a recall of 3,791 vehicles(opens in new tab). In another incident in Atlanta(opens in new tab) on Wednesday, a Waymo drove into a flooded road and stalled while a journalist was inside(opens in new tab).
This isn’t the first time Waymo has issued recalls for its vehicles. In February 2024, the company issued a recall after two of its cars in Phoenix crashed into the same car while it was being towed. It also issued recalls relating to Waymos colliding with gates, chains, telephone poles, and erratic behavior around school buses. Separately, Waymo is being investigated(opens in new tab) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after one of its cars struck a child near a school in Santa Monica in January. The child sustained minor injuries.
The flooding incidents are not the first time Waymo vehicles have struggled with unexpected conditions in the field.
See original article by Garrett Leahy at SF Standard
