Alphabet’s subsidiary Waymo is recalling over 1,200 self-driving cars to update their software and address the risk of collisions with chains, gates, and other obstacles on the road.
This recall involves 1,212 Waymo vehicles using the company’s fifth-generation Autonomous Driving System (ADS) software.
Waymo has sold over 1,500 self-driving cars in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.
According to the company, between 2022 and the end of 2024, there have been 16 accidents involving Waymo vehicles colliding with chains, gates, and other obstacles. Reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that these collisions did not result in any injuries.
In May 2024, the NHTSA launched an investigation into the performance of Waymo’s self-driving vehicles after receiving reports that their driving behavior may have violated traffic safety laws. The agency stated that the incidents under investigation “involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a qualified driver should have been able to avoid.” The investigation is still ongoing.
Waymo has stated that the issue has been resolved through the latest sixth-generation Autonomous Driving System software and added that by the end of December, all their vehicles will have the latest ADS software version installed.
On Wednesday, May 14th, the company stated, “Waymo provides 250,000 paid ride services a week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the United States, and we have a record of reducing casualties in tens of millions of miles of fully autonomous driving, indicating that our technology makes driving safer.”
In February 2024, Waymo recalled 444 self-driving cars in Arizona following two minor collision incidents. Waymo mentioned that software errors could cause the autonomous vehicles to inaccurately predict the movement of towed vehicles.
Autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo and Cruise, owned by General Motors, are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny after a severe Cruise vehicle accident involving pedestrian injuries in 2023. General Motors has reduced funding for Cruise, integrating it into its broader business.
In May 2024, a Waymo self-driving car collided with a wooden utility pole in Phoenix, Arizona, leading to a recall of over 670 vehicles by the company in June.
Last week, Amazon’s self-driving division Zoox agreed to recall 270 unmanned autonomous vehicles after a self-driving robot taxi collided with a passenger vehicle in Las Vegas, fortunately without any injuries.
(This article references reports from Reuters)