Waymo plans to issue a voluntary software recall to federal safety regulators related to how its robotaxis operate around school buses, the Alphabet-owned company told TechCrunch.
The company said a voluntary software recall will be filed early next week. Waymo said it updated its software on Nov. 17 as soon as the issue was identified. The company claims that this update significantly improves performance to a level that outperforms human drivers in this critical area.
In the era of modern passenger cars and now robotaxis, where operations are handled by software, software recalls have become more common. These updates or corrections are often made before a formal recall, but are still important when submitted to the federal government.
Waymo’s decision follows increased scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and criticism from officials in Atlanta and Austin over how its robotaxis operate around school buses.
NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) launched an initial investigation into Waymo in October after seeing footage of a self-driving car swerving around a stopped school bus with extended stop signs and flashing lights as it was dropping off children in Atlanta. In this incident, a Waymo robotaxi crossed directly in front of the school bus from the right side. The self-driving car then turned left in front of the bus and drove down the street.
Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere in Austin, where the company also operates a robotaxi service with partner Uber. Austin School District officials claim in a letter published on the NHTSA website that at least five of these incidents occurred after Waymo announced it had updated its software.
The agency sent a letter to Waymo on Dec. 3 requesting more information about its self-driving system and its operations after the Austin School District reported that the company’s robotaxis had illegally passed school buses 19 times this year. Regulators have requested detailed information about fifth-generation autonomous driving systems and their operation.
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“We’re extremely proud of Waymo’s strong safety record, which shows 12 times fewer fatal accidents involving pedestrians than human drivers, but maintaining the highest safety standards means recognizing when it’s time to improve our actions,” Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s chief safety officer, said in an emailed statement. “As a result, we have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to proper slowing and stopping in these scenarios. We will continue to analyze vehicle performance and make necessary fixes as part of our continuous improvement efforts.”
The company says there have been no injuries related to the behavior of the vehicles addressed in this recall and emphasizes that safety is its top priority and it will continue to work with NHTSA.
The company says it will continue to investigate, track and implement further updates as needed.
Waymo has issued two voluntary software recalls, one earlier this year and one in 2024. One of the charges was issued after a Waymo vehicle in Phoenix was operated without a human safety operator and crashed into a utility pole in an alley during a low-speed pullover maneuver.
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