Waymo has published a software reminder for its Robotaxi fleet of approximately 1,212 cars after several of them have encountered objects such as doors and channels, according to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
An NHTSA spokesperson told Business Insider in an email that the agency opened an investigation into the fifth generation driver of Waymo last year after receiving 22 incident reports, some of whom included collisions with fixed and semi-attotal semi-standing barriers. The spokesman said the investigation remained open.
The NHTSA report said that incidents involving collisions in obstacles occurred between December 2022 and April 2024. No injury was involved, according to the report.
According to the report, Waymo also reported the NHTSA Nine other minor collisions with similar obstacles that occurred between February 2024 and December 2024. When the NHTSA opened the investigation, Waymo said it had worked on a software update, the report said.
A software update has been fully deployed for the entire Waymo fleet by December 2024. It has no impact on Waymo’s current operations, Waymo told Business Insider, Business Insider told an email.
“Waymo offers more than 250,000 trips paid each week in some of the most difficult driving environments in the United States,” the spokesperson wrote. “We hold on to a high level of security, and our results reduction in injury to tens of millions of kilometers entirely autonomous, shows that our technology makes the roads safer. The NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety, and we will continue to work in collaboration with the agency as part of our mission to be the most faithful driver in the world.”
This is the third reminder that Waymo published in just over a year.
In February 2024, Waymo issued a voluntary recall of more than 400 vehicles after two of its Robotaxis crashed in a truck which was towed. The accident only caused minor vehicle damage and no passengers was involved.
The company published another voluntary reminder in June 2024 for more than 670 cars after an unoccupied Waymo crashed in a telephone post in Phoenix, according to the NHTSA report.
The two reminders involved software updates.
Waymo said his robotaxis was safer than human drivers. The data published by the company showed that Waymo cars have seen 81% “fewer crashes causing injuries” than the average human driver when comparing millions of Miles Waymo has driven out in Phoenix and San Francisco.
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