Waymo, the self-driving car company that originated from Google’s X research lab, has issued a recall for over 1,200 of its autonomous vehicles following the discovery of a critical software issue.
The flaw was reportedly causing the cars to collide with a range of stationary roadway barriers, including chains and gates.
The recall affects a significant portion of the company’s fleet, underscoring the ongoing technical challenges in the roll-out of fully autonomous public transport.
This is not the first time Waymo has come under scrutiny; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal investigation into the company last year after receiving 22 reports of Waymo vehicles acting erratically or potentially violating traffic safety laws.
These reports included concerns in San Francisco, where driverless cars have been cited for blocking traffic, dragging a pedestrian, interfering with firetrucks, and even entering active crime scenes.
In response to the growing public safety concerns, a new law has been enacted in California, empowering first responders to order a company to move an autonomous vehicle out of an area within two minutes.
The San Bruno police department reaffirmed that legislation is in the works to allow officers to issue official notices to the companies controlling the vehicles.
Despite the advanced external cameras and sensors used by Waymo cars, the incidents highlight the delicate balance between technological innovation and public safety that is constantly being navigated in the burgeoning autonomous vehicle industry.
The flaw was reportedly causing the cars to collide with a range of stationary roadway barriers, including chains and gates.
The recall affects a significant portion of the company’s fleet, underscoring the ongoing technical challenges in the roll-out of fully autonomous public transport.
This is not the first time Waymo has come under scrutiny; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal investigation into the company last year after receiving 22 reports of Waymo vehicles acting erratically or potentially violating traffic safety laws.
These reports included concerns in San Francisco, where driverless cars have been cited for blocking traffic, dragging a pedestrian, interfering with firetrucks, and even entering active crime scenes.
In response to the growing public safety concerns, a new law has been enacted in California, empowering first responders to order a company to move an autonomous vehicle out of an area within two minutes.
The San Bruno police department reaffirmed that legislation is in the works to allow officers to issue official notices to the companies controlling the vehicles.
Despite the advanced external cameras and sensors used by Waymo cars, the incidents highlight the delicate balance between technological innovation and public safety that is constantly being navigated in the burgeoning autonomous vehicle industry.