The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Alphabet's Waymo self-driving vehicles following a series of concerning incidents. In May, the agency reported 22 incidents involving Waymo's robotaxis, including 17 collisions.
On Wednesday, NHTSA highlighted that several of these collisions involved Waymo vehicles striking clearly visible objects—situations that experienced human drivers typically avoid. The agency has requested that Waymo provide a comprehensive report by August 6, detailing all public road travels by their driverless vehicles, along with any updates or testing procedures implemented to address the reported incidents.
The safety regulator expressed apprehension that the unexpected driving behaviors exhibited by Waymo's autonomous vehicles could elevate risks of crashes, property damage, and personal injuries, particularly in areas dense with pedestrians and other road users. This probe is part of a broader scrutiny of self-driving technologies, with similar investigations ongoing into General Motors' Cruise and Amazon's Zoox.
Despite these concerns, Waymo maintains confidence in its safety measures. Earlier this month, the company stated it is \"proud of our performance and safety record over tens of millions of autonomous miles driven.\" However, in February, Waymo had to recall 444 self-driving vehicles following two minor collisions in Arizona caused by a software error.
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U.S. agency seeks answers from Waymo in self-driving vehicle probe
cgtn.com
