Business Desk 
May 15, 2025
Safety issues are once again in the limelight as Waymo is recalling 1,200 of its autonomous vehicles. The recall follows multiple low-speed crashes of robotaxis into stationary objects such as gates and poles.
The problem was exposed when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started investigating a number of minor accidents.
From December 2022 through April 2024, at least seven low-speed crashes were reported, with Waymo's autonomous cars colliding with objects like chains, poles, and gate barriers. No injuries were reported.
To resolve the issue, Waymo deployed a software update in November 2024, which it claims substantially reduced the risk of such accidents.
The update was implemented on the fleet of 1,200 robotaxis that were operational at the time. The firm also provided information on nine additional similar incidents that occurred between February and December 2024 as part of an investigation by NHTSA that continues.
Waymo has 1,500 commercial autonomous vehicles on Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco roads.
However, this latest recall was issued "to meet regulatory requirements" and enhance its system's detection of challenging roadside obstacles, the company stated.
This is Waymo's third recall involving its autonomous driving software. Previous problems involved a collision with a telephone pole and another incident where two robotaxis struck the same pickup truck that was being towed.
