Waymo Halts Freeway Operations Due to Safety Issues

On Thursday, Waymo users logged into the app and noticed a significant change: freeway service was no longer available. Trips that typically took just a few minutes on the freeway were now projected to take much longer via local roads.

The company later confirmed that it had halted freeway driving across all its U.S. markets due to concerns about construction zones. Additionally, service in Atlanta and San Antonio was paused because of ongoing issues with flooded roads. This decision followed reports of Waymo’s robotaxis navigating flooded streets at high speeds in Texas, prompting a software recall for the entire fleet.

These suspensions come as Waymo, owned by Alphabet, aggressively expands into new markets with the ambitious goal of reaching 1 million paid rides per week, up from the current 500,000. The company is also preparing to launch a new vehicle, the Zeekr-built Ojai electric van, which will feature its sixth-generation autonomous driving software.

Waymo spokesperson Chris Pappas explained that the decision to suspend freeway driving was made due to concerns about construction zones, although he did not specify the exact issues the vehicles were encountering. “We are committed to being good neighbors for our riders and our communities,” Pappas stated. “As part of that commitment, we make proactive decisions including temporarily pausing aspects of our service. We know riders count on us to get around, and we appreciate their patience as we work to get them where they’re going safely and reliably.”

Highway trips are crucial as they help reduce travel times and provide access to key routes, such as those leading to airports. Waymo has emphasized the importance of freeway driving in scaling its business and competing with traditional rideshare services. Currently, freeway trips are only available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami.

This latest development adds to a series of challenges for the robotaxi company, which, despite significant advancements in reducing traffic accidents and injuries, continues to face frequent edge-case incidents. Recently, a neighborhood in Atlanta was disrupted by empty Waymo vehicles, causing a traffic jam in a cul-de-sac, and a driver in Dallas filmed a Waymo running a red light at a busy intersection.

At this time, there is no information on when Waymo will resume highway driving or service in Atlanta and San Antonio.