Zoox Robotaxi Crossed Into Opposing Lane Near Intersections
Zoox's autonomous driving system caused 62 instances of robotaxis crossing center lane lines or stopping in crosswalks near intersections between August and December. The company issued a voluntary software recall of 332 vehicles after identifying the issue on August 26, with no collisions reported but acknowledged increased crash risk.
What happened
On August 26, a Zoox robotaxi made a wide right turn, crossed partially into the opposing travel lane, and temporarily stopped in front of the oncoming travel lane, according to NHTSA filing documents.
Zoox monitored its data and identified 62 instances between August 26 and December 5 where vehicles crossed the center lane line near intersections or stopped in crosswalks. The company updated its software on November 7 and again in mid-December to address the issues.
Reported impact
No collisions were associated with the issue, but Zoox noted that the unsafe maneuvers could increase the risk of a crash.
Index analysis
The autonomous driving system made maneuvers that, while common for human drivers, did not meet Zoox's safety standards. In some instances, vehicles stopped in crosswalks to avoid blocking intersections at red lights, and in others made late turns resulting in wide turns that crossed into opposing traffic lanes.
Governance controls
Zoox conducted a voluntary software recall of 332 vehicles affecting the period from March 13 to December 18. The company engaged in ongoing conversations with NHTSA about the frequency, severity, and root causes of the occurrences.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.