Waymo Pauses Robotaxi Service in Five US Cities After Flood Incidents
Waymo has paused its self-driving car service in five US cities.
Software Issue Forces Pause
The decision follows a software issue. Some vehicles entered flooded roads and got stuck. The company cited an “abundance of caution”. The US firm recently issued a recall of thousands of robotaxis. The recall followed an incident on 20 April in San Antonio, Texas. An empty Waymo vehicle entered a flooded road and was swept into a creek.
Expanded Pause
A similar incident happened in Atlanta, Georgia. A Waymo spokesperson said the temporary pause now covers five cities. Four are in Texas, plus Atlanta. The company also suspended services on US freeways. It is working to improve its cars’ performances in construction zones.
Safety First
Waymo hopes to operate a robotaxi service in London later this year. The company told the BBC that safety is its “highest priority”. It said it continues to monitor forecasts, alerts, and live weather conditions. “We will resume serving riders soon,” it added.
