The National Road Department of the USA (NHTSA) completed a 14-month investigation against Waymo unmanned vehicles (part of Alphabet). The reason was 22 incidents, including 17 accidents.
The complaints concerned violations of traffic rules, unexpected maneuvers and clashes with obstacles that an ordinary driver should notice. However, in the end, the investigation ended without fines and other measures from the regulator.
In 2024, Waymo voluntarily held two reviews of cars. The first – after hitting the pole, the second – in May, covered more than 1,200 cars. Then the software was updated to improve obstacles recognition.
Today, over 1,500 unmanned cars Waymo operate on the US roads. They make more than 250,000 trips a week without a driver in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The company also plans to enter the New York market, Miami and Washington, but is faced with fears of authorities and residents.
