Waymo isn’t done freezes the robotaxi service on security issues. The Alphabet brand says it has suspended freeway traffic in US cities where it has a presence, including Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix and San Francisco.
In the statement is given initially for ReutersWaymo said it wants to integrate “recent technical learnings” into its Driver app. According to a spokesperson, the company wants to improve the way its autonomous vehicles navigate construction zones.
Waymo added that highway operations should resume “soon.” Service on other roads has not changed.
The decision was not related to a specific incident, but came days after writer Elliot Slade shared a video It showed the Waymo driving past construction cones, maneuvering around large trucks and avoiding police. According to X’s post, Slade felt “completely helpless” as his partner sat next to him.
Compounding Waymo’s recent woes
Flooded roads also caused problems
The outage came shortly after one of Waymo’s cars pulled into a flooded intersection and temporarily halted service in Atlanta after being stuck for about an hour. This, in turn, came after the company shut down its San Antonio operation for similar reasons.
Waymo tried to mitigate the problem with a software update that moved its robotax away from roads at high risk of flooding. However, a more comprehensive solution is still in development, and the Atlanta break came after a short-lived fix. Waymo has recalled all 3,791 of its robot taxis as part of its renewal strategy.
Safety issues aren’t as unique to Waymo as they are to Tesla and competitors like it GM’s canceled Cruise they also dealt with problems. The company faced many concerns, including in 2026 parking ticketshis handling of suspended school buses and a collision with a child in January.
Necessary but inconvenient
While Waymo has long said it prioritizes safety, the decision to end highway service could frustrate a company looking to boost demand. All the affected cities are highly dependent on highways for long-distance travel. Without them, some rides are simply too long to be practical—customers may switch to human-operated rides, and once driverless taxis return, they’re not guaranteed to return.
Source: Reuters
