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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has officially closed its safety investigation into Waymo’s 5th Generation automated driving system (ADS). The agency’s decision comes after Waymo conducted two voluntary recalls to address software issues that led to unexpected driving behaviors, including collisions with stationary objects.
Key Highlights
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) closed its Preliminary Evaluation (PE24016) of the Waymo ADS.
- The investigation reviewed 367 total incidents, which included 109 crashes, one of which resulted in an injury.
- Waymo issued two recalls with software updates to improve how its autonomous vehicles perceive and respond to objects.
- While the investigation is closed, NHTSA will continue to monitor Waymo’s ADS performance for any future safety concerns.
Details of the Investigation
The Preliminary Evaluation was opened to investigate Waymo’s ADS performance following 22 initial reports of unexpected driving. These incidents, identified through the Standing General Order (SGO) and other public sources, included cases where a Waymo vehicle was the only vehicle involved in a collision or exhibited driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety laws.
Throughout the investigation, the ODI identified 367 total incidents. Of these, 109 were crashes, with 102 being reported by Waymo under the SGO. The reported incidents involved behaviors such as unexpected reactions to traffic control devices and improperly entering construction zones. While one crash incident involved an injury, none of the incidents involving potential traffic law violations, whether they resulted in a crash or not, had any reported injuries.
Focus on Stationary Object Collisions
A significant focus of the ODI’s review was a recurring pattern of crashes where Waymo vehicles struck stationary or semi-stationary objects. These objects included items such as gates, chains, roadway barriers, and other similar physical obstructions. The investigation analyzed these events to understand the root cause of the ADS performance issues.
Waymo’s Corrective Actions and Recalls
In response to the investigation, Waymo conducted two recalls to correct the software flaws. The first recall, 24E049, involved a software update deployed after an unoccupied Waymo vehicle struck a utility pole. The second recall, 25E034, was filed to improve the ADS’s ability to detect and avoid roadway barriers, such as chains strung across a path of travel and various types of gates.
Conclusion and Future Oversight
Given the recall actions taken by Waymo to address the identified safety defects, the ODI has closed its Preliminary Evaluation. However, NHTSA has affirmed it will continue to monitor crash reports and other data related to the Waymo ADS. The agency will take additional action if warranted by future events.
Data from the SGO crash reports cited in the investigation can be found at NHTSA.gov/SGOCrashReporting.
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