Street Smarts: Waymo and Waze Turn Driver Data Into Pothole Repairs
Hitting potholes while driving is never fun. They can cause headaches, car accidents and damage to your vehicle, culminating in a frustrating commute. Waymo, the robotaxi company, and Waze, the free, community-driven GPS navigation app, have come together to do something about potholes. On Thursday, the two companies announced a joint venture to target potholes that need patching. The new data-sharing pilot program will collect information on troublesome road conditions and communicate the necessary fixes to the city. Waymo operates in 11 cities, and the pilot program will begin in five major markets: Austin, Texas; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area, with plans to expand to more cities in the future. So far, Waymo says it has tracked 500 potholes in the Bay Area alone. “As Waymo’s autonomous fleet travels across San Jose, we appreciate the collaboration with Waymo and Waze as we explore how technology can help identify issues like potholes faster so we can respond more efficiently,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in an emailed statement. Departments of …
