Waymo plans to roll out a new software update for its self-driving taxi service in 2025 to address issues with bypassing stationary school buses. This action follows a probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and does not involve removing vehicles from service; instead, it's a proactive software revision for the entire autonomous lineup, with the formal submission expected at the start of next week.
In remarks shared publicly, Waymo's top safety executive, Mauricio Peña, noted that the company's vehicles experience significantly fewer collisions with pedestrians compared to those operated by humans, yet acknowledged areas where performance could be enhanced.
Peña explained the choice to submit a voluntary recall to NHTSA concerning proper deceleration and halting in such situations. He emphasized ongoing evaluation of vehicle operations and implementation of required adjustments to uphold standards of ongoing refinement.
The NHTSA review highlighted cases where Waymo's driverless cars proceeded beyond school buses displaying extended stop arms and activated warning signals. These events occurred in locations including Atlanta and Austin, Texas, according to the agency's findings.
This marks the second software update from Waymo this year, prompted by observations of its robotaxis colliding with barriers like gates and chains. In the previous year, the firm submitted two additional recalls: one resolving a incident involving a utility pole collision and another fixing repeated impacts on an identical towed pickup truck by separate vehicles.