Waymo temporarily suspended driverless taxi operations in Atlanta and three Texas cities after several robotaxis struggled to handle heavy rain and flooded roads. The pauses follow a recall of about 3,800 Waymo vehicles across the US for flood-related issues. A viral video of a Waymo vehicle stuck at a puddle in Austin drew widespread attention. Separately, Waymo continues tests in London with a potential public rollout pending Transport for London approval.
Waymo Pauses Robotaxis In Four US Cities After Heavy Rain And Puddles Force Stops
A Waymo self-driving electric car in London on 11 March, 2026 (Getty Images)
Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous-vehicle unit, temporarily suspended its driverless taxi operations in four US cities after multiple robotaxis struggled with heavy rain and standing water.
The company pulled driverless service in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, following earlier pauses in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, Texas, amid severe-weather warnings. The moves come after Waymo recalled roughly 3,800 vehicles in the United States over issues related to flooded roads.
Earlier this month a widely shared video showed a Waymo vehicle in Austin appearing unable to cross a puddle, an incident that reportedly caused traffic to back up on a busy road.
A Waymo driverless taxi was filmed stuck at a puddle in Austin, Texas, on 1 May 2026 (Dani Tristan)
Waymo did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent, but in a statement the company said it was reviewing the fleet’s performance.
“Safety is Waymo’s top priority, both for our riders and everyone we share the road with,” the company said. “During a period of intense rain yesterday in Atlanta, an unoccupied Waymo vehicle encountered a flooded road and stopped.”
Separately, Waymo is advancing tests of its driverless taxi service in London as it prepares for a wider rollout later this year. If Transport for London approves the plan, passengers could be able to book autonomous rides from September.
This week the UK Department for Transport began accepting applications for self-driving taxi services, saying the technology could substantially reduce accidents on public roads. Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, described self-driving vehicles as a “transformative opportunity,” highlighting potential benefits for disabled people and older adults as well as job creation.
London-based startup Wayve has also signalled interest in launching an autonomous taxi service in the UK, alongside Chinese firm Baidu and US company Uber.
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