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Waymo restores freeway rides after software recall
Waymo is restoring freeway rides in Phoenix after a software recall involving construction zones, with San Francisco and Los Angeles next.
Image: Gizmodo
Waymo is bringing its robotaxis back to Phoenix freeways after voluntarily restricting freeway operations in May and filing a software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The company announced the change in an X post on July 29, 2026, saying it would gradually resume freeway routes in Phoenix before expanding to additional cities. Riders can express interest through the Waymo app, although the company did not provide a timetable for Phoenix-wide access.
“Freeways are back! We’re gradually resuming freeway routes for faster rides — starting today in Phoenix, with more cities to follow.”
Why Waymo recalled its freeway software
Waymo’s freeway service launched only in late 2025, but some riders had already come to rely on the faster routes. Social media users said the temporary freeway suspension made trips less convenient, with some reporting that they switched to Uber.
Last month, a Waymo spokesperson told Gizmodo that the company had “voluntarily restricted freeway operations” in May. Waymo also said it had “proactively notified state and federal regulators” and chose to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA.
The recall report described a defect involving freeway construction zones. Under certain circumstances, the autonomous vehicle could enter and drive at speed through a construction zone because it prioritized avoiding other freeway hazards incorrectly or failed to recognize the zone. The report said that behavior increased the potential for collisions.
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Waymo now says software updates have addressed the issue:
“Waymo will be resuming freeway operations across its entire service area, including areas with construction, after implementing software updates designed to improve performance around freeway construction zones.”
San Francisco and Los Angeles return soon
A Waymo spokesperson also told TechCrunch that freeway operations would resume in San Francisco and Los Angeles within days. The company did not specify exact restart dates for either city.
The San Francisco rollout comes as Waymo faces renewed scrutiny. On July 4, videos showed Waymo vehicles apparently blocking streets after the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks display, amid severe traffic congestion. The incident helped fuel a local push for nationwide legislation regulating robotaxis.
Waymo said afterward that “extreme traffic congestion in Northern San Francisco disrupted normal operations for several Waymo vehicles.”
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via Gizmodo
