Tech news in 3 minutes
Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis to stop them driving into highway construction zones
Waymo has recalled nearly 4,000 robotaxis, restricting them from highways after 13 incidents where the vehicles entered construction zones. Six occurred in Phoenix, Arizona in April 2025, and seven in San Francisco, California in May. The company pulled robotaxis from all highways on May 19, and a software fix is under development, per filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Waymo continues operating on surface streets but has occasionally paused service for severe weather. This is Waymo's sixth recall. Previous recalls addressed flooded roads, illegal behavior around school buses, low-speed collisions with chains and gates, and towed trucks. Waymo's driving software is under NHTSA and NTSB investigation after a robotaxi struck a child near a school in January. The company says its vehicles have driven over 170 million miles autonomously, claiming a 13x reduction in serious crashes versus human drivers. The recall stems from Waymo's robotaxis failing to recognize ramp closure signs into pre-planned freeway construction zones in Phoenix mid-April. After review, the "Field Safety Committee" restricted freeway operations there. On May 18, seven robotaxis entered active construction lanes in the Bay Area because software prioritized avoiding other hazards over recognizing construction zones. Waymo suspended all freeway driving on May 19, and its safety board decided to issue the recall on June 8. Videos of incidents circulated on social media, including a passenger who feared for their life after a robotaxi blasted through cones and was chased by police. Waymo is expanding rapidly, planning launches in over 20 cities this year, including London and Tokyo. The expansion has highlighted edge cases like highway construction zones.