Waymo cars drove into active freeway construction zones in 13 separate incidents in Phoenix and San Francisco.
Waymo was forced to recall almost all of its 3,900 U.S. robotaxis after 13 reported instances of the autonomous cars driving into freeway construction zones.
As Natalie Lung explains in Transport Topics, the incidents happened in Phoenix and San Francisco in April and May. "In six events in Phoenix, the self-driving cars did not recognize and drove past ramp closure signs into pre-planned work zones on the freeway. In San Francisco, seven vehicles entered freeway lanes with active construction by 'driving between cones designating lane closure in the adjacent lane,' as they inappropriately prioritized avoiding other freeway hazards, according to the filing." No crashes occurred as a result, but the company suspended freeway driving in May.
According to Lung, "The company plans to update its self-driving software to detect when vehicles are in work zones and avoid entering them, according to a separate filing. The remedy is still under development."
Read the full story: Waymo Recalls Robotaxis Over Driving Through Work Zones
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