Waymo Recalls Self-Driving Cars After Safety Concerns

Waymo Recalls 1,200 Self-Driving Cars After Minor Crashes Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has initiated a recall of over 1,200 of its self-driving cars following a series of minor collisions. The company attributed the incidents to a software glitch that was addressed in November 2024. Importantly, Waymo stated that none of the crashes caused injuries, and the vast majority were low-speed incidents. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into Waymo last year after receiving reports of its robotaxis exhibiting driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety regulations. The NHTSA confirmed that their investigation remains open. "Despite these incidents, Waymo's technology has demonstrably reduced injury-causing collisions by 81% compared to human drivers over 50 million miles," said a Waymo spokesperson, highlighting the company's commitment to safety. The recall underscores the ongoing challenges and scrutiny faced by the autonomous vehicle industry as it strives to deploy safe and reliable self-driving technology. The NHTSA's continued investigation will play a crucial role in shaping future regulations and safety standards for autonomous vehicles.