Waymo has temporarily suspended its robotaxi operations in four U.S.cities—Atlanta, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston—after its autonomous vehicles struggled with flooded roads during heavy rainfall.The suspension follows an incident in Atlanta where a Waymo robotaxi became stuck in floodwaters for about an hour.

Although the vehicle was unoccupied and safely removed, the event highlighted ongoing challenges in Waymo’s efforts to safely navigate severe weather conditions.

The company had previously issued a software update intended to reduce risk in areas prone to flooding, but this precaution was insufficient in Atlanta’s unexpectedly rapid flooding.

Waymo emphasized that safety remains its top priority and that it relies on alerts from the National Weather Service as part of a broader system to anticipate poor weather.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is aware of the Atlanta incident and is monitoring the situation.

Waymo has faced similar challenges before, including difficulties addressing illegal maneuvers around school buses and a previous crash in Santa Monica where a child was lightly injured.These incidents are currently under investigation by both NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).The company continues to refine its safety protocols as autonomous vehicles encounter real-world conditions that exceed initial predictive measures.