Waymo suspends driverless service in Atlanta and Texas after flooding incidents
Waymo suspended driverless car services in Atlanta and Texas on May 22, 2026, after one of its vehicles became stranded by flooding during heavy rains. The company also referenced earlier flood incidents in San Antonio that had prompted a software recall for nearly 3,800 vehicles.
What happened
A Waymo vehicle became stranded by flooding during heavy rains in Atlanta on Wednesday, May 21, 2026. The vehicle was unoccupied and was later recovered; at least one other Waymo vehicle was also waylaid during the storm.
There were two previous incidents in San Antonio in which Waymo vehicles got caught in floodwaters, after which the company issued a software recall for nearly 3,800 vehicles.
Waymo suspended driverless car services in Atlanta and multiple Texas cities on May 22, 2026, citing forecasted severe weather including thunderstorms and potential flash flooding as a precaution.
Reported impact
The suspended services affected Atlanta and several Texas cities including Houston, where the autonomous ride-hailing service had launched in February 2026.
Index analysis
The incidents suggest that Waymo's autonomous vehicles lack adequate capabilities to handle flooded road conditions, as evidenced by multiple stranding incidents in Atlanta and San Antonio.
Governance controls
Following previous flood incidents in San Antonio, Waymo issued a software recall for nearly 3,800 vehicles.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.