LA Taps Waymo Robotaxis to Detect Potholes Across City Streets

Self-driving vehicles will help identify road damage to aid faster repairs.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:26pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a futuristic Waymo self-driving vehicle sensor array, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the intricate cybernetic hardware. The image conveys a sense of advanced technology and data-driven infrastructure.Autonomous vehicles equipped with advanced sensors help Los Angeles identify and address potholes across the city's sprawling street network.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles is partnering with Waymo and Waze on a pilot program that uses autonomous vehicles to detect potholes and other road damage across the city's 23,000-mile street network. The move aims to create a more comprehensive view of street conditions and help officials respond faster to deteriorating pavement, as the city has struggled to keep up with road repairs in recent years.

Why it matters

Los Angeles residents have reported a surge in pothole complaints, with over 6,700 filed in January alone following a rainy season that damaged roads. The city's road repair efforts have declined in recent years, leaving drivers to navigate hazardous conditions. The Waymo-Waze partnership taps autonomous technology to better identify problem areas and improve the efficiency of the city's road maintenance.

The details

The pilot program uses Waymo's self-driving vehicles to detect potholes and other road damage, with that data then fed into Waze's traffic platform to alert drivers approaching trouble spots. The initiative is currently operating in five metro areas, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, and has already identified around 500 potholes. Officials say the program aims to create a more comprehensive view of street conditions compared to relying solely on resident 311 reports, helping the city respond faster to deteriorating pavement.

  • In January 2026, Los Angeles residents reported over 6,700 potholes through the city's 311 system.
  • In fiscal year 2025, the city repaired only 310 miles of roads, down from around 850 miles in 2015.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Waze

A community-based traffic and navigation app owned by Google.

Bureau of Street Services

The Los Angeles city department responsible for road maintenance and repair.

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What they’re saying

“Working together helps our community and makes our roads better for everyone.”

— Andrew Stober, Strategic partner manager, Waze

What’s next

The Waymo-Waze pothole detection pilot is currently operating in five metro areas and plans to expand to colder-weather cities where freeze-thaw cycles often worsen road conditions.

The takeaway

This partnership highlights how autonomous vehicle technology can be leveraged to improve city infrastructure and road maintenance, addressing long-standing challenges like potholes that have plagued Los Angeles and other municipalities. By tapping into real-time data from self-driving cars, officials can gain a more comprehensive view of street conditions and respond more efficiently to deteriorating pavement.