Waymo returns to San Antonio streets after flood-induced hiatus
Waymo has resumed its robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, five months after a flash flood swept away one of its vehicles. The company had suspended operations in April and later issued a recall, restricting driving in flood-prone areas. The restart covers a 60-mile zone including downtown and the airport, with dozens of vehicles, and Waymo now operates paid rides in 15 U.S. cities.
The April flooding in San Antonio exposed a critical weakness in Waymo's autonomous driving system—its vehicles failed to recognize the danger of waterlogged roads, slowing rather than halting as they entered flooded intersections. One vehicle was ultimately swept away, prompting a May recall that restricted operations in flood-prone areas.
Waymo's return to San Antonio covers a 60-mile service zone spanning downtown and the international airport, with dozens of vehicles now active. The company says software updates will improve detection of standing water. This restart follows a brief pause in other Texas cities, and Waymo now operates paid rides across 15 U.S. cities.
This incident highlights how autonomous vehicles must contend with environmental extremes that human drivers navigate intuitively. The flooding failure could shape public trust in robotaxis, particularly in regions prone to severe weather. Riders in flood-vulnerable cities may weigh convenience against safety concerns, while regulators could scrutinize how companies verify their systems handle edge cases. Waymo's recovery may ultimately strengthen its technology, but the episode underscores that self-driving fleets remain a work in progress.