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

To forestall 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 automobiles from the highway, Waymo is voluntarily updating software program for its autonomous fleet in response to an investigation from the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration. Based on Waymo, the recall shall 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 must be higher.”

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

Based on the NHTSA investigation, some Waymo autonomous automobiles have been seen failing to cease for varsity buses that had their cease indicators and flashing lights deployed. The federal company stated within the report that there have been situations of Waymo automobiles 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 automobile crashing right into a telephone pole and one other correcting how two separate robotaxis hit the same exact pickup truck that was being towed.