Waymo suspended its driverless taxi operations across six major cities after autonomous vehicles drove into flooded streets during heavy rain. The company halted service in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, and Atlanta following videos showing cars stuck in Atlanta floodwaters. These incidents occurred as storms dumped 2 to 3.5 inches of rain on the region, overwhelming drainage systems.

The shutdowns follow a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration letter identifying software flaws that let cars enter standing water. Waymo first discovered the issue after an unoccupied taxi drove into a flooded San Antonio road on April 20. Initially, the company claimed software fixes wouldn't interrupt service, but recent events proved otherwise.

Beyond the city service pause, Waymo also suspended highway operations in Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area to improve construction zone navigation. The company operates half a million autonomous trips weekly, making these incidents particularly significant for public trust.

These safety setbacks compound ongoing federal investigations into traffic violations, including reports of illegally passing stopped school buses. The incidents highlight persistent challenges facing autonomous vehicle deployment at scale, where technical limitations can quickly become headline news.