Waymo Resumes Highway Robotaxi Services

Waymo is gradually reinstating its freeway routes in operational regions, two months after halting high-speed road services due to issues faced by its robotaxis in construction zones.

On Wednesday, Waymo released a statement on X, detailing the systematic reactivation of freeway routes starting with Phoenix—its primary hub for autonomous ride-hailing. Additional regions, including Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, are expected to follow soon, as confirmed by a Waymo spokesperson to TechCrunch.

Waymo indicated they are “restarting freeway operations across their service area, including construction zones, after implementing software enhancements designed to improve performance in freeway construction conditions.”

These software updates feature enhanced scene detection and routing capabilities, which the company highlighted in their announcement.

The temporary halt and subsequent restoration of freeway services have taken place amid increased scrutiny on Waymo and other robotaxi companies, especially concerning the ability of autonomous vehicles to navigate heavy traffic and assist emergency responders. Earlier this week, Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) proposed legislation urging federal regulators to establish baseline national safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators, following multiple incidents where self-driving cars impeded emergency services and compromised active crime scenes, along with failures to adhere to safety protocols involving traffic cones and flares.

Waymo initiated its robotaxi services on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles in November 2025, representing a crucial effort to entice riders by reducing commute times and improving airport accessibility. The company later expanded its freeway routes to Miami.

This expansion proceeded without issue until operations were unexpectedly suspended in May, resulting in confusion among riders on social media. During this pause, Waymo reiterated its commitment to enhancing its robotaxis’ performance in construction zones to TechCrunch, announcing plans to incorporate “recent technical insights into our software” for a swift return to these routes.

A few weeks later, Waymo voluntarily recalled nearly 4,000 robotaxis after discovering at least 13 instances where its vehicles entered highway sections closed for construction, as reported in a June update to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A Waymo representative confirmed that these incidents did not result in any accidents or injuries. However, after a thorough review, the company decided to temporarily halt freeway operations.

This recall represents the sixth instance involving Waymo’s robotaxis, with earlier recalls addressing software issues related to vehicles navigating flooded areas and exhibiting unsafe behavior near school buses.