The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday it has closed a 14-month investigation into a series of minor collisions and unexpected driving behavior by Alphabet’s Waymo autonomous vehicles without taking additional enforcement action.
The federal auto safety regulator launched the probe in May 2024 after receiving 22 reports involving Waymo robotaxis. The vehicles were said to have exhibited behavior that could potentially violate traffic safety laws or acted in other “unexpected” ways. Of those cases, 17 involved minor collisions, including one in which a Waymo vehicle hit a utility pole.
The agency cited two voluntary recalls issued by Waymo this year as key reasons for closing the case. One recall in early 2024 addressed the utility pole collision, while another, announced in May, covered more than 1,200 vehicles and included a software update to improve the detection and avoidance of roadway barriers such as chains, gates, and similar obstructions.
In assessing the incidents, NHTSA noted that some collisions “involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.” The investigation focused on the vehicles’ interactions with traffic control devices, performance in construction zones, and overall compliance with safety regulations.
Waymo responded positively to the outcome. “At Waymo we are committed to prioritizing safety and we’re pleased that NHTSA has concluded their investigation and closed our case,” a company spokesperson said Friday.
Waymo currently operates over 1,500 autonomous vehicles in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas. The company runs more than 250,000 fully driverless paid rides per week and launched a partnership with Uber in Atlanta last month. Expansion to New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C. is also in development.
Self-driving vehicle companies, including Waymo and General Motors’ (GM.N) Cruise unit, have faced heightened regulatory scrutiny following a 2023 incident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured by a Cruise vehicle. In response, GM has reduced Cruise’s funding and folded the unit into its broader operations.
