Waymo has temporarily paused its driverless ride service in Nashville as the company responds to concerns about how its autonomous vehicles handle flooded roadways.
The decision comes after one of Waymo’s unoccupied vehicles became stranded in floodwaters during severe storms in Atlanta earlier this week. The company said the move is being made out of caution as heavy rain and flooding threats continue across parts of the South.
In addition to Nashville, Waymo has suspended operations in several cities across Texas and Atlanta while it evaluates weather conditions and updates safety measures. The company recently issued software improvements designed to help its vehicles better identify and avoid dangerous flooded roads.
Waymo officials said autonomous vehicles can operate in rain, but extreme weather conditions such as flash flooding create additional challenges. The company uses weather forecasts and safety thresholds to determine when service should be limited or paused.
The temporary suspension comes as severe weather is expected to impact parts of the southern United States through the holiday weekend, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail, and strong storms.
Waymo has not announced when Nashville service will resume but said operations will return once conditions are considered safe.