Waymo Robotaxis Keep Missing Floods: Service Now Halted in Four Cities

This incident exposes a critical limitation of autonomous vehicle technology: robotaxis cannot reliably detect and avoid flooded roads, even after software safety recalls. The recurring problem suggests self-driving vehicles are not yet ready for widespread deployment, prompting intensified regulatory investigation from NHTSA and NTSB. Environmental hazard detection remains a major unresolved challenge that could significantly delay the commercialization of autonomous taxi services.