Waymo has announced a voluntary software recall for its robotaxi fleet after investigations revealed the vehicles failed to stop for school buses unloading students. This action follows a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) probe into incidents recorded in Atlanta and Austin. The company reaffirmed its commitment to the continuous safety improvement of its self-driving vehicles.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google's parent company), is issuing a voluntary software recall for its robotaxi fleet in 2025. This decision comes in response to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which revealed that some self-driving vehicles failed to stop as required when school buses were stationary with stop signs extended and lights flashing. Unlike traditional recalls that pull vehicles from the roads, this action is limited to an over-the-air software update to address the specific behavior.
The NHTSA report noted recorded incidents in Atlanta and Austin, Texas, where Waymo's self-driving vehicles passed stopped school buses while they were unloading or picking up students. This constitutes a clear violation of traffic laws designed to protect children's safety. Waymo is scheduled to submit the official recall filing to the federal agency early next week. Mauricio Peña, Waymo's Head of Safety, clarified that the company is fully aware when "our vehicles' performance should be better," confirming that this voluntary recall pertains to "appropriately slowing down and stopping in these scenarios."
This is not Waymo's first software recall this year; the company issued a previous recall after some of its robotic vehicles collided with gates, chains, and similar objects. The company also submitted two separate software recalls last year, one addressing a vehicle collision with a telephone pole, and another correcting how separate robotaxis handled a single small truck that was being towed. Despite this, Peña emphasized in his statement that the company's data shows Waymo vehicles are involved in accidents with pedestrians significantly less frequently compared to human drivers, while reaffirming the company's ongoing analysis of its vehicles' performance and implementation of necessary corrections as part of its commitment to continuous improvement.
These incidents and recurring recalls highlight the ongoing challenges facing self-driving vehicle technology, especially in complex urban environments that require precise interaction with vulnerable road users like children. Waymo's swift and voluntary response demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing software shortcomings, which is crucial for building public trust in this emerging technology. As robotaxi fleet operations expand, continuously testing edge-case scenarios and improving algorithms remains a pivotal factor in ensuring the safety of all road users.
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