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Waymo robotaxis are starting to return to freeways
Waymo has begun restoring freeway routes to its robotaxi service, starting in Phoenix, more than two months after suspending high-speed road operations due to problems with how its vehicles handled construction zones. The company said it has rolled out software updates improving scene recognition and routing around roadworks, and plans to extend the restart to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area in the coming days. The move matters because it comes amid growing scrutiny of robotaxi safety, including a newly proposed US bill seeking national safety standards for autonomous vehicles.
Waymo first introduced freeway routes across San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles in November 2025, later extending them to Miami, as a way to cut journey times and improve airport access. It suspended freeway driving in May after riders noticed routes disappearing, and in June it voluntarily recalled nearly 4,000 robotaxis after finding at least 13 cases of vehicles entering closed construction sections of highway, though it reported no injuries or collisions. This was Waymo's sixth recall, following earlier fixes for vehicles driving into floodwater and passing stopped school buses illegally.
In short
- Waymo resumes freeway robotaxi routes after a two-month construction-zone safety pause
- Restart begins in Phoenix, with LA and the Bay Area to follow soon
- Comes after a June recall of nearly 4,000 vehicles and rising regulatory scrutiny
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Restoring freeway service can make journeys faster and improve access to airports, while giving Waymo a chance to apply software changes intended to recognise and route around construction zones. The company says the earlier incidents caused no injuries or collisions, and a phased return could allow it to resume a useful service while continuing to address known problems.
The case against
Freeways leave less room for error: a vehicle entering a closed construction area at high speed could put passengers, road workers and other drivers at serious risk. The repeated recalls and reported construction-zone failures may justify keeping freeway service suspended until the fixes are independently assessed and clear safety standards are in place.
Explained simply
Waymo operates robotaxis – self-driving vehicles that function as taxis – in several American cities. In late 2025, the company began offering routes on high-speed freeways as a way to reduce travel times and improve airport access compared to using city streets. In May this year, however, Waymo suspended freeway driving after discovering that its vehicles had problems in areas with road construction, sometimes entering sections of highway that were officially closed.
The suspension reflects broader concerns about whether self-driving vehicles are safe enough for public roads. Waymo has carried out six recalls to fix various problems, including vehicles entering floodwater and illegally passing stopped school buses. The company's latest difficulties come amid increased regulatory attention, with US lawmakers considering new national safety standards for autonomous vehicles.
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