Waymo is facing a federal investigation from road safety regulators following reports of its robotaxis potentially committing traffic violations.
The Department of Transportation said it is opening a formal investigation on the ride-sharing service after a preliminary investigation found 22 instances of its automated driving systems "appeared to disobey traffic safety control devices."
Several Waymo vehicles reportedly collided with stationary objects, disobeyed traffic laws, and drifted towards "oncoming traffic or entering construction zones."
The department tasked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to continue the for "any commonalities in these incidents."
It is uncertain if the investigation will result in Waymo recalling its driverless systems, although the company already issued a recall to 444 vehicles last February due to a software error.
In response, Waymo told Reuters it welcomes the probe to demonstrate its "commitment to safety transparency."
NHTSA Cracks Down on Robotaxi Companies
The NHTSA's investigation on Waymo is only the latest move from the transportation department as it cracks down on robotaxi businesses after a series of road accidents reported last year.
Just a day earlier, the agency launched its investigation on Amazon's Zoox after two reported crashes leading to several motorists suffering minor injuries, CNBC News reported.
This follows after the NHTSA opened a formal probe on GM Cruise last October after one of its vehicles dragged an unlucky pedestrian for over 20 feet.
Safety Concerns for Robotaxis Mount Amid Traffic Accidents
Amid investigations on the company's driverless systems, more residents and state officials are expressing concerns about the rapid rollout of Waymo rides in their cities despite serious safety risks.
San Francisco, one of the cities where Waymo first tested its pilot program, earlier filed a lawsuit to revoke the business permit to operate in the city after reports of road collisions involving Waymo robotaxis.
The lawsuit alleged the driverless cars interfered with first responders and endangering pedestrians.
Despite concerns, Waymo assured that its service is mostly safe after recording 50,000 "weekly trips for our riders in some of the most challenging and complex environments."
As of writing, Waymo operates in select parts of Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The company is currently planning to expand its business to Austin, Texas.
