Waymo recalls about 3,900 robotaxis after some drove into 'freeway construction zones'

Waymo has announced a recall of approximately 3,900 of its robotaxis across the United States to address software issues that have led some vehicles to inadvertently enter freeway construction zones. This decision, documented in notices submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), marks the second voluntary recall for the Alphabet-owned company within a span of just over a month. This recall comes on the heels of 13 reported incidents where Waymo robotaxis either drove into construction zones on freeways in Phoenix or ventured into active construction lanes in the San Francisco area, as detailed in filings made public on Thursday. The affected vehicles utilize the company’s fifth-generation automated driving systems. In a letter to the NHTSA, Waymo acknowledged that driving through closed construction zones elevates the risk of accidents. The company stated, "We identified an area of improvement regarding performance around freeway construction zones." In light of this, Waymo had proactively restricted its operations on freeways last month, notifying both state and federal regulators of the situation and choosing to file a voluntary software recall. While the company works on a solution, it has limited the use of its robotaxis on freeways. Currently, Waymo continues to provide safe transportation for riders on surface streets in all cities where it operates, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami. This is not the first time Waymo has faced challenges with its vehicles. The company previously encountered issues with its robotaxis failing to yield to school buses in Austin, Texas, and experienced problems during a significant power outage in San Francisco last December, which led to halted vehicles and traffic chaos. Earlier in May, Waymo also executed a recall due to incidents of its robotaxis navigating into flooded areas. Additionally, the NHTSA is investigating an incident from January where a Waymo robotaxi illegally passed a stopped school bus. Currently, Waymo operates a commercial robotaxi service in 11 U.S. markets, with plans for international expansions to London and Tokyo this year. Recently, they introduced a new subscription tier priced at $29.99 per month for frequent users in high-demand areas. Grayson Brulte, co-founder of AUTNMY AI, an organization tracking autonomous driving developments, commended Waymo's proactive approach but noted that until a fix for the freeway issue is implemented and validated, the company's expansion efforts might be significantly hampered.