Waymo's Robotaxi Fleet Under Investigation After Crashes—In Latest Probe Of Self-Driving Vehicles

Core Viewpoint - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Waymo's robotaxi fleet due to multiple reports of traffic law violations and collisions, marking the fourth probe into self-driving systems by regulators this year [1]. Group 1: Incident Reports - A preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA revealed 22 incident reports involving Waymo's vehicles, including collisions with stationary objects and violations of traffic laws [2]. - Out of the 22 reports, 17 incidents involved crashes or fires, with the automated driving system reportedly disobeying traffic safety control devices [2]. - None of the incidents resulted in injuries or fatalities, and the automated driving system was engaged during each incident or disengaged just before the incidents occurred [2]. Group 2: Company Response - Waymo has stated it will cooperate with the NHTSA's investigation and expressed pride in its performance and safety record over millions of autonomous miles driven [3]. Group 3: Industry Context - Increased scrutiny of automated driving systems has been noted, with investigations into other companies such as Zoox, Ford, and Tesla due to various incidents involving their autonomous vehicles [4]. - Waymo recently became the first company to operate a public robotaxi service and has expanded its operations to Los Angeles [5].