Home / Technology / Waymo Robotaxis Face Highway Ban Over Construction Chaos
Waymo Robotaxis Face Highway Ban Over Construction Chaos
18 Jun
Summary
- Nearly 4,000 robotaxis recalled to restrict highway use.
- 13 incidents of vehicles entering closed construction zones noted.
- Software fix for construction zone behavior is under development.
Waymo has issued a recall for nearly 4,000 of its robotaxis, restricting them from highway operations. This measure comes after the company identified at least 13 incidents where its autonomous vehicles entered highway sections closed for construction.
Six of these occurrences happened in Phoenix, Arizona, during April 2026, while seven took place in San Francisco, California, in May 2026. Waymo voluntarily pulled its robotaxis from all highways on May 19, 2026, and a permanent fix is currently being developed.
This recall marks Waymo's sixth, with previous issues including vehicles driving into flooded roads and exhibiting illegal behavior around school buses. The company's driving software is also under investigation by NHTSA and NTSB following a January 2026 incident involving a child near a school.
Waymo stated that its vehicles did not recognize ramp closure signs and drove into construction zones in Phoenix in mid-April 2026. In San Francisco on May 18, 2026, seven robotaxis entered active construction zones, prioritizing avoidance of other hazards or failing to recognize the zones. The company suspended all freeway driving the following day.
