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Waymohas voluntarily issued a software recall to all 672 of its Jaguar I - Pace robotaxis after one of them collided with a telephone set perch . This is Waymo ’s second recall . The Alphabet - owned companyrecalled previous softwarein February after two of its robotaxis crashed into the same pickup truck that was being tow by a towage truck .
The Vergefirst issue the news after Waymo alerted the publication to its recall remedy — a sign that the robotaxi company ’s take a proactive approach amid increase scrutiny from regulators and the world-wide populace . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) is currentlyinvestigating Waymo ’s autonomous vehicle software package afterreceiving 31 reportsof robotaxis crash or potentially outrage traffic safety jurisprudence .
NHTSA corroborate to TechCrunch that it has find Waymo ’s callback documents and is processing them for publication on its website .
“ This is our 2d voluntary callback , ” Katherine Barna , a Waymo representative , told TechCrunch . “ This reflects how seriously we take our obligation to safely deploy our engineering science and to transparently communicate with the public . ”
Transparency is top of mind for most self-governing vehicle companies follow the disarray at GM ’s Cruise in October and November 2023 . While Cruise is slowlymaking its way backinto markets , the companylost its permitsto control in California andgrounded its entire fleetlast year after one of its robotaxis die hard over and drag a pedestrian for 20 feet . The company ’s reputation took a hit less so for the nature of the incident — a human - drive vehicle hit the pedestrian first , throwing them into the path of the Cruise robotaxi — and more because Cruise executiveswithheld key detailsof the incident from regulator .
The chance event that prompted Waymo ’s 2d recall encounter on May 21 when a Waymo fomite in Phoenix , driving without a human prophylactic operator , jar with a telephone set pole in an alley during a low - amphetamine pullover maneuver .
Local reportssay the Waymo was repulse to nibble up a passenger through an alley trace on both sides by wooden telephone celestial pole that were level with the route and surrounded by white-livered furrow to determine a route for vehicle . The Waymo fomite slow down down to draw over and strickle a pole at a speed of eight miles per hour . telecasting of the crashed fomite shows that it appears to have driven right into the pole . Waymo ’s robotaxi have some damage , but there were no passengers or pedestrians bruise .
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“ We went to workplace straight off and determined that , in certain situation , our vehicle had an insufficient ability to stave off collisions with on - road minute , lasting object within the drivable surface , ” said Barna . “ We have since follow up mapping and software updates . ”
The rider severalise 12News that the Waymo — which would have been her first drive — never made it to peck her up .
