Overview
- A pilot announced Thursday by Waymo and Waze routes automated pothole detections from Waymo’s autonomous fleet into the Waze for Cities platform.
- The initial rollout covers the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where Waymo says its cars have logged about 500 potholes now visible to agencies and to Waze users for confirmation.
- Waymo’s vehicles flag potholes using cameras, lidar, radar, and accelerometers that sense jolts and tilt, allowing the system to mark locations without manual reports.
- City officials describe the feed as a helpful supplement to 311 calls and street inspections, with San Francisco Public Works stressing it will not replace crews and noting the need to watch for gaps in neighborhoods less traveled by robotaxis.
- Waymo and Waze say they plan to expand to more cities and possibly other street conditions, a move that could speed repairs in places with freeze–thaw damage and help the company build trust with local governments.