Waymo has voluntarily updated its robotaxi fleet to prevent vehicles from entering highway construction areas while it develops a software fix. The move affects nearly 4,000 robotaxis and follows multiple cases in which the vehicles continued into closed freeway sections.
According to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company identified at least 13 incidents in Phoenix and San Francisco, where autonomous cars moved into zones marked for active roadwork. Waymo says it restricted freeway operations on May 19 and is now refining how the system interprets construction signage and lane closures.
The company emphasized that its vehicles remain active on surface streets and that the update is part of a broader safety review. Waymo also noted that it has already informed regulators and is working on a software-based solution designed to improve decision-making in complex road environments.
This is the sixth recall involving Waymo's robotaxis, reflecting how rapidly evolving autonomous mobility continues to encounter real-world edge cases. At the same time, the company says its fleet has logged more than 170 million autonomous miles and continues to expand into new cities, including London and Tokyo.
As self-driving systems grow more capable, each update helps shape a future where urban mobility becomes safer, smarter, and more adaptive.