Waymo’s robotaxi fleet is being recalled once more, this time for failing to cease for college buses

To stop its robotaxi fleet from passing stopped college buses, Waymo is issuing one other software program recall in 2025. Whereas it isn’t a standard recall that pulls autos from the highway, Waymo is voluntarily updating software program for its autonomous fleet in response to an investigation from the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. In accordance with Waymo, the recall will likely be filed with the federal company early subsequent week.

Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s chief security officer, stated in an announcement that Waymo sees far fewer crashes involving pedestrians than human drivers, however that the corporate is aware of when “our habits ought to be higher.”

“Because of this, we’ve made the choice to file a voluntary software program recall with NHTSA associated to appropriately slowing and stopping in these situations,” Peña stated in an announcement to multiple news outlets. “We’ll proceed analyzing our autos’ efficiency and making mandatory fixes as a part of our dedication to steady enchancment.”

In accordance with the NHTSA investigation, some Waymo autonomous autos have been seen failing to cease for college buses that had their cease indicators and flashing lights deployed. The federal company stated within the report that there have been cases of Waymo vehicles driving previous stopped college buses in Atlanta and Austin, Texas.

Earlier this yr, Waymo issued one other software program recall after a few of its robotaxi fleet have been seen hitting gates, chains, and comparable objects. Final yr, Waymo additionally filed two different software program recollects, considered one of which addressed a fleet car crashing right into a telephone pole and one other correcting how two separate robotaxis hit the same exact pickup truck that was being towed.