The autonomous vehicle dream of major tech giants like Alphabet’s Waymo is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has discovered additional incidents involving Waymo’s self-driving vehicles that raise concerns about their performance and safety on public roads.

Earlier this month, the NHTSA opened an investigation into Waymo’s robotaxis after receiving 22 reports of erratic driving behavior, including 17 collisions. 

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• NHTSA uncovers 9 additional incidents involving Waymo’s self-driving vehicles exhibiting erratic behavior.

• Incidents include collisions with stationary objects, disobeying traffic rules, and raising safety concerns.

• The investigation could lead to a potential recall if Waymo’s vehicles are deemed an “unreasonable risk.”

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Waymo’s Self-Driving Vehicles Under Scrutiny: NHTSA Probe Uncovers More Incidents

These incidents ranged from disobeying traffic signals to colliding with stationary objects that a competent human driver would typically avoid.

Now, the agency has revealed that it has learned of nine additional similar incidents involving Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. 

In a letter sent to Waymo on Friday, the NHTSA expressed concern over “collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.”

The reports detail collisions with stationary and semi-stationary objects like gates, chains, and parked vehicles, as well as instances where the self-driving system appeared to disregard traffic safety control devices or rules.

The NHTSA has requested Waymo to provide detailed information about these incidents, including video footage, by June 11. 

The agency is particularly concerned that Waymo’s self-driving vehicles’ unexpected driving behaviors “may increase the risk of crash, property damage, and injury,” especially in the proximity of other road users, including pedestrians.

While Waymo has not commented on the specific incidents cited by the NHTSA, the company previously stated that it is “proud of our performance and safety record over tens of millions of autonomous miles driven.”

However, the investigation represents a significant step in the NHTSA’s efforts to ensure the safety of autonomous vehicles on public roads. 

If the agency concludes that Waymo’s vehicles pose an unreasonable safety risk, it could demand a recall, severely undermining public trust in the technology.

This probe into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles is part of a broader series of investigations initiated by the NHTSA into the performance of autonomous driving systems developed by major tech companies, including General Motors’ Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox.

As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to push for wider adoption, incidents like these highlight the need for rigorous testing and regulation to ensure the safety of both passengers and other road users. 

The outcome of the NHTSA’s investigation into Waymo could have far-reaching implications for the future of self-driving technology.

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