Why were Waymo cars driving into active construction zones?

Waymo issued a recall for nearly 4,000 of its self-driving vehicles on June 8, following at least 13 reported incidents of the robotaxis driving into active construction zones on highways. Seven of these occurrences happened on May 18 in San Francisco, where the vehicles allegedly prioritized avoiding other road hazards or failed to recognize the construction zones, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One passenger, Elliot Slade, described his vehicle accelerating into a construction zone despite visible signs and lights, expressing fear for his life. Slade stated the Waymo continued for approximately 20 seconds before pulling over in a residential area and that the company offered him three free rides as compensation. The day after the May 18 incidents, all Waymos were temporarily removed from highways, and a software solution is reportedly under development by Waymo. The company's vehicles continue to operate on surface streets. This recall marks the sixth for Waymo and occurs as the company plans a significant expansion into 21 additional cities in 2026, including launches in the United Kingdom and Japan.