Waymo robotaxis face challenges due to heavy rain and waterlogging, temporary suspension in four cities

Staff Report: PNN

Waymo, the globally known self-driving vehicle technology company, has once again faced challenges. Due to heavy rainfall and waterlogged roads affecting robotaxi performance, the company has temporarily suspended its services in four cities in the United States.

Recently, a Waymo robotaxi was seen driving through a flooded road in Atlanta, USA. The vehicle later became stuck in water and remained there for nearly one hour. Local authorities later rescued and removed the vehicle. Following the incident, Waymo suspended services in Atlanta. A similar precautionary step has also been taken in San Antonio.

The company stated that passenger and pedestrian safety is its top priority. It claimed that due to sudden heavy rainfall, road conditions changed rapidly, causing the vehicle to enter a flooded area.

Meanwhile, due to adverse weather conditions, robotaxi services have also been temporarily suspended in Dallas and Houston. Waymo said the decision was taken to avoid potential risks.

Just last week, the company had recalled some vehicles due to a software issue related to avoiding flooded roads. At that time, Waymo said it had not yet fully resolved the problem and had issued software updates to limit movement in risky areas.

However, the latest incident has raised questions about how effective those updates actually are, as the Atlanta case occurred even after the software changes. According to the company, flooding in the area developed so rapidly that water accumulated on the roads before the National Weather Service could officially issue a warning.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into the incident. The agency said it is in contact with Waymo and will take further action if necessary.

This is not the first time Waymo’s robotaxis have faced criticism. Last year, some vehicles were seen improperly passing stopped school buses. Even after a software update at that time, similar behavior reportedly continued.

Currently, several investigations are ongoing against Waymo, including an incident in Santa Monica, California, earlier this year, where a robotaxi hit a child. The company claims the vehicle slowed down before the collision and the child sustained only minor injuries.

According to analysts, although self-driving vehicle technology is advancing rapidly, adapting to extreme weather and real-world road conditions remains a major challenge. Recent incidents involving Waymo highlight these limitations once again.