Waymo Issues Recall on Over 3,000 Vehicles Due to Software Deficiency

Waymo has initiated a recall involving more than 3,000 of its vehicles as a result of a software malfunction. This glitch enables the autonomous vehicles to navigate past school buses that are stationary, potentially breaching safety protocols.

As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s notice dated November 8, the flaw could cause vehicles to illegally bypass a school bus when its stop signal is activated and red lights are flashing—posing a serious safety threat, especially to pedestrians.

Currently, all states mandate that vehicles must halt for school buses displaying flashing red lights and extended stop arms. Waymo had identified the underlying issue and committed to amending the affected cars by mid-November, while proactively communicating their plans to initiate this recall.

This recall was prompted by numerous reports from Austin, Texas, pointing out instances where Waymo vehicles failed to stop for school buses. Their autonomous systems reportedly bypassed buses involved in the transportation of school children on several occasions this school year.

The Austin Independent School District highlighted that there have been at least 20 incidents in which Waymo vehicles did not comply with traffic regulations, even after remedial software updates.

Following these concerns, an investigation conducted by the NHTSA commenced last October. The examination revealed at least six additional occurrences in other regions where Waymo’s self-driving vehicles bypassed halted school buses.

Waymo, under the Alphabet Inc. umbrella, operates a significant fleet of driverless cars across various cities, including key hubs like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. The company has ambitions to broaden its reach to numerous additional locales.

Investigations and Future Directions

The alert from NHTSA and their ongoing evaluation underscores the heightened scrutiny on autonomous vehicle compliance with traffic laws, focused particularly on passenger safety in school zones. While Waymo is navigating these challenges, the company's expansion plans signal its commitment to improving autonomous driving technologies.