If you’ve been on the road in Phoenix these days, you’ve started seeing Waymo cars on the local freeway again. Waymo X inscription.
Highways are back! We’re gradually restoring freeway routes for faster rides – starting today, there are more cities in Phoenix. Check the Waymo app for access. https://t.co/2OS6q26876 pic.twitter.com/0O9kE7yNGJ
— Waymo (@Waymo) July 29, 2026
Highway service from Waymo it only rolled out late last yearbut according to comments on social networks, drivers are used to it. Some users have expressed their displeasure with Waymo’s temporary freeway version Link to other services like Uber.
A spokesperson for robotics giant Waymo last month told Gizmodo it “voluntarily restricted highway operations” in May. It also “proactively notified state and federal regulators and initiated a voluntary software recall with NHTSA,” it said.
In accompanying reportThe full description of the defect that led to the recall tells an unpleasant story:
Description of defect or non-conformity:
Under certain circumstances, an AV may enter and drive highway construction zones rapidly due to inadequate prioritization and/or construction zone recognition to avoid other highway hazards.
Description of safety risk including accident, fire, death, injury:
Speeding in a highway construction zone increases the potential for collisions.
But it looks like everything’s been fixed now, and Waymo can regroup in front of you at any time—yes, even near a construction zone. according to Waymo emailed the statement to TechCrunchWaymo “will resume highway operations across its entire service area, including areas under construction, after deploying software updates designed to improve performance around highway construction zones.” A spokesperson apparently told TechCrunch that highway service will be restored in San Francisco and Los Angeles within days.
Waymo’s reputation in San Francisco is taking a bit of a hit right now. A major traffic snafu was blamed on Waymo on July 4, when Waymo filmed a video of Waymo cars blocking streets right after the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks. Apparently there is a situation helped push nationwide legislation locally focused on robot regulation.
A Statement from Waymo “Extreme congestion in North San Francisco on July 4 disrupted normal operation for several Waymo vehicles,” he said shortly after the July 4 incident.
