PHOENIX, ARIZONA — Self-driving car company Waymo temporarily suspended operations Friday as severe storms brought flash flooding, lightning, and hail to the Phoenix metro area.
Vehicles Stranded in Floodwaters
Viewer footage captured Waymo vehicles stuck in flooded streets across Phoenix and Scottsdale. The company confirmed it pulled its driverless cars off the road as the storm system intensified.
Waymo Statement on Safety
In a statement to ABC15, the company said:
“Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and those with whom we share the streets. Due to severe flash flooding in Metro Phoenix, Waymo has temporarily suspended operations in the area. We are coordinating closely with local officials, and our teams are working diligently to support riders and remove affected vehicles from the roadways.”
Rider Safety Protocols
Waymo added that passengers stuck during the storm had access to Rider Support 24/7 through the vehicle or the Waymo app. The support team can dispatch first responders if needed, and Phoenix emergency crews are trained to manually operate the vehicles when required.
Unclear When Service Will Resume
The company did not provide a timeline for resuming operations, saying it continues to assess conditions. Friday’s flooding was part of a broader storm system that brought widespread travel delays and power outages across the Valley.
As Phoenix recovers from the severe weather, questions remain about how autonomous fleets will adapt to increasingly extreme climate events in the future…