Waymo and Waze Partner to Detect and Report LA Potholes

The tech companies aim to help improve road conditions by sharing pothole data with transportation departments.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:51am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D macro illustration of a pothole in the road, with the edges and cracks illuminated by vibrant neon cyan and magenta lights, conceptually representing the data-driven approach to identifying and reporting infrastructure issues.Autonomous vehicle sensors and crowdsourced data combine to shine a light on hidden road hazards.Los Angeles Today

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company, and Waze, the navigation app, have launched a joint pilot program to detect and report potholes in Los Angeles. The initiative will use Waymo's sensors to identify potholes, then send that data to city and state transportation departments. Waze users will also be able to verify and add to the pothole reports, helping to improve the accuracy of the data.

Why it matters

Potholes pose a significant safety risk for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and can also cause costly vehicle damage. By partnering to identify and report potholes, Waymo and Waze aim to provide transportation agencies with valuable data to help them prioritize road repairs and maintenance, ultimately improving mobility and safety for LA residents.

The details

The Waymo-Waze pothole detection pilot is launching in five cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. Waymo has already identified around 500 potholes in these areas. The data collected will be visible to Waze users, who can verify the potholes and add additional reports, further enhancing the accuracy of the information shared with transportation departments.

  • The partnership was announced on April 13, 2026.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous vehicle company and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Waze

A community-based navigation app that provides real-time traffic and road condition updates.

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What’s next

The pilot program is expected to continue expanding to additional cities in the coming months, with the goal of providing transportation agencies with comprehensive pothole data to improve road conditions.

The takeaway

By leveraging their respective technologies and data, Waymo and Waze are demonstrating how public-private partnerships can help address critical infrastructure challenges and enhance safety and mobility for urban communities.