Waymo announced it will begin gradually restoring Robotaxi highway routes, starting in Phoenix, and then expanding to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company stated that the adjustments are based on a recent software update, focusing on improving the vehicle's ability to identify and navigate around highway construction zones.
Recover from Phoenix first
Phoenix is Waymo's first fully driverless ride-hailing market. The company announced on its X platform that it will initially add highway routes there. A Waymo spokesperson later stated that more cities, including Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, will follow suit in the coming days.
In an email statement, Waymo said it is restoring highway operations across its entire service area, covering sections of road under construction. According to the company, the updated system has enhanced scene recognition and route planning capabilities, thus reopening some previously restricted routes.
Previously suspended due to construction
Waymo will begin offering its Robotaxi service, which includes highway routes, in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles in November 2025, and later expand the service to Miami. For Waymo, highway routes help reduce commuting time and increase the appeal of scenarios such as airport travel.
According to documents Waymo filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in June of this year, the company discovered at least 13 incidents in which its Robotaxi vehicles had driven on highways closed for construction. Waymo subsequently initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 4,000 vehicles and temporarily restricted highway operations.
- Fleet size involved: nearly 4,000 Robotaxi vehicles
- At least 13 related incidents have been disclosed.
- The company stated that there were no injuries or collisions.
US regulatory discussions intensify
As Waymo resumes high-speed operations, discussions about the safety of Robotaxi are intensifying in the United States. The focus is on how autonomous vehicles will handle high-traffic conditions, construction zones, and emergency response vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks.
Earlier this week, California Representative Kevin Mullin introduced a bill requiring federal regulators to establish national minimum safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators. This comes amid a series of incidents where autonomous vehicles blocked ambulances and fire trucks, entered crime scenes, and failed to recognize traffic cones and warning signals.
