Waymo pauses Atlanta service

Waymo halted its Atlanta robotaxi service on Tuesday after one of its unoccupied vehicles became stranded in floodwaters during heavy rain, the company said. The suspension came eight days after Waymo recalled about 3,800 robotaxis in the United States over a software issue that could allow vehicles to enter flooded roads. TechCrunch reported on May 21 that Atlanta and San Antonio were both suspended as Waymo worked on changes to stop vehicles from driving into flooded streets. (wusa9.com) (cnbc.com) The Atlanta pause adds to a string of weather- and safety-related issues for Alphabet’s self-driving unit as it expands into more U.S. markets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on May 12 that Waymo had narrowed its operating scope, increased weather-related restrictions and updated maps while it worked on a permanent flooding remedy. (wusa9.com) Separately, federal investigators are examining a January crash in Santa Monica involving a child and a separate school-bus incident in Texas. ### How did the Atlanta shutdown happen? Atlanta television stations reported on May 20 that a Waymo vehicle drove into floodwater and stalled for roughly an hour before it was removed. Waymo said the vehicle was empty and that no injuries were reported. The company said the car encountered a flooded roadway during what it described as an intense and unexpected period of rainfall across the city. (wusa9.com) Waymo said the storm conditions developed before a National Weather Service flash-flood warning, watch or advisory had been issued and before some of its operational safety measures had been triggered. The company said service would remain paused while crews monitored weather and roadway conditions. (autos.yahoo.com) ### Why is flooding now a fleet-wide issue for Waymo? May 12 marked Waymo’s disclosure of a voluntary recall covering about 3,800 vehicles using its fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems. The company told regulators the software could allow robotaxis to drive onto flooded roadways, particularly on higher-speed roads. (wusa9.com) San Antonio helped trigger that action. Reuters reported that a Waymo vehicle on April 20 drove into a flooded lane there during extreme weather, and CNBC said the vehicle was swept into a creek with no passengers on board. Waymo said it had already put mitigations in place, including limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur during intense rain, while it worked on additional software safeguards. (wusa9.com) ### What other federal scrutiny is Waymo facing? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is separately investigating a January incident in Santa Monica in which a Waymo vehicle struck a child near an elementary school, causing minor injuries, according to Reuters and other reports. (cnbc.com) March brought another federal review. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating a January incident in Texas in which Waymo self-driving vehicles passed a stopped school bus with its lights activated, Reuters reported. CNBC also said Waymo had faced criticism for failing to yield to school buses in Austin. ### What has Waymo said about next steps? Waymo said safety remained its top priority “for both our riders and everyone we share the road with,” according to its statement carried by local stations. (autos.yahoo.com) The company said it had already made operational changes related to flooding after the recent recall and was continuing to develop software updates to improve how vehicles handle flooded roads. Atlanta service will stay paused until conditions are judged safe, Waymo said. In San Antonio, CNBC reported on May 12 that service there also remained temporarily suspended as the company worked on a final remedy for the flooding problem. (wusa9.com) (autos.yahoo.com)