Partnering with Waze to help cities patch their potholes
Waymo and Waze launch a pilot program using autonomous vehicle data to help cities detect and repair potholes more efficiently, starting in five metro areas.
Waymo and Waze announced a pilot program that leverages Waymo’s vehicle systems to detect potholes in cities where its autonomous fleet operates. The data will be shared with local governments and the Waze for Cities platform, supplementing user-reported potholes to improve road maintenance efficiency. Waymo’s detection systems provide real-time, high-accuracy information on road conditions, addressing gaps in traditional reporting methods. The initiative aims to reduce vehicle damage and crash risks by enabling faster repairs.
The pilot will initially launch in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where Waymo has already identified around 500 potholes. Cities and state transportation departments will receive the data through the free Waze for Cities platform, allowing officials to prioritize repairs based on comprehensive road condition insights. Waze users in these areas will also see alerts for detected potholes, enhancing safety for all road users. The program encourages user verification of detected potholes to improve data accuracy.
Waymo emphasized its commitment to road safety and infrastructure improvement, stating that the pilot builds on its existing safety benefits. Arielle Fleisher, Policy Development and Research Manager at Waymo, highlighted the company’s role as a trusted partner to cities. The initiative responds to feedback from city officials seeking more efficient ways to address pothole-related challenges, particularly in areas with limited resources for manual inspections.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and NYU Rudin Center Director Sarah Kaufman praised the collaboration, noting its potential to accelerate pothole detection and response. Waze’s Andrew Stober described the program as an extension of its community-driven reporting model, providing cities with clearer road condition data. Waymo and Waze plan to expand the pilot to additional cities, including those with harsh winter conditions that worsen pothole damage, while seeking feedback to refine the program.