The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Google’s Waymo self-driving vehicles for potential safety risks, including accidents involving stationary objects and ignoring traffic signals. According to Ars Technica, the NHTSA received 22 incident reports related to Waymo’s automated driving system, prompting an investigation by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
Among the incident reports, 17 involved collisions with no reported injuries, with incidents ranging from crashes into stationary objects to disobeying traffic control devices. The ODI is looking into these incidents to determine if updates are needed to prevent vehicle malfunctioning. Preliminary evidence suggests that Waymo’s automated driving systems may have been engaged or disengaged during these incidents.
Waymo relies on machine learning to navigate roads safely, but acknowledges challenges in navigating unpredictable situations like variable weather and emergency vehicles. The company recently addressed a software defect that caused two vehicles to collide with a pickup truck, resulting in vehicle damage but no injuries.
Despite these incidents, Waymo continues to update its ADS software to improve performance and safety. The NHTSA’s probe may lead to safety updates for construction zones, as unexpected entry of Waymo vehicles could pose risks of severe injuries or fatalities. The NHTSA has been actively monitoring the self-driving car industry, with recalls of Cruise and Tesla vehicles in the past year.
