Waymo halts freeway driving due to safety concerns
▼ Summary
– Waymo suspended freeway driving across all its US markets due to concerns about construction zones.
– The company also paused service in Atlanta and San Antonio because of lingering issues with flooded roads.
– Customers noticed the change when trips that normally used freeways were rerouted to longer local roads.
– The suspension follows incidents of Waymo robotaxis driving through flooded roads at high speeds in Texas.
– Waymo issued a software recall for its entire fleet after the flooded road incidents.
On Thursday, Waymo users noticed a significant shift when opening the ride-hail app: freeway driving had vanished. Routes that once took minutes on the highway suddenly showed much longer travel times using local streets, sparking widespread discussion on social media.
The company later confirmed it had paused all freeway operations across its U. S. markets, citing safety concerns specifically tied to construction zones. In addition, Waymo also halted service in Atlanta and San Antonio due to persistent issues with flooded roads. This move follows a recent incident in Texas, where multiple Waymo robotaxis were observed driving through floodwaters at high speeds. That event led the company to issue a software recall covering its entire fleet.
Waymo has not provided a timeline for resuming freeway routes, but the decision underscores the challenges autonomous vehicle operators face when navigating unpredictable road conditions. The company continues to refine its technology to handle both construction hazards and severe weather events safely.
(Source: The Verge)
