Waymo Under Federal Investigation Following Reports of Robotaxi Incidents Near School Buses
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a formal investigation into Waymo, the autonomous vehicle developer, after multiple reports surfaced alleging its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses in both Texas and Georgia. The probe raises serious questions about the safety and reliability of Waymo’s self-driving technology as the company aggressively expands its operations.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation sent a letter to Waymo on Wednesday requesting detailed information regarding its fifth-generation self-driving system. The agency expressed concern over “unexpected or illegal behavior” exhibited by the Alphabet-owned company’s vehicles around school buses, a particularly vulnerable area for pedestrian safety.
Initial Concerns Sparked by Georgia Incident
This latest investigation builds upon an earlier inquiry opened in October following an incident in Georgia. Video footage showed a Waymo autonomous vehicle continuing past a stationary school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended – a clear violation of traffic laws designed to protect children.
In response to the initial incident, Waymo stated that safety is its top priority and that it had deployed software updates to address the issue. However, evidence suggests the problem has not been resolved.
Austin School District Reports Multiple Incidents
The Austin Independent School District (AISD) provided documentation detailing 19 separate instances of Waymo vehicles driving past stopped school buses since the beginning of the current school year. Alarmingly, at least five of these incidents occurred after Waymo claimed to have implemented a software fix.
“The district asked Waymo to cease self-driving operations around school pick-up and drop-off times,” Reuters reported. According to the news agency, Waymo refused the request and another incident involving an actively loading school bus was reported on December 1.
On November 24, the NHTSA directly questioned Waymo, asking the company to “let us know if you have ceased operations during these times as requested or plan to cease,” and to confirm the implementation of a successful software correction.
Recurring Regulatory Scrutiny for Waymo
This is not the first time Waymo has faced regulatory scrutiny. In 2024, the federal regulator initiated another probe following reports of erratic driving potentially violating traffic laws. This latest investigation comes as Waymo aims to expand its services to over 20 additional cities in the coming years, raising concerns about the pace of deployment versus the maturity of the technology.
A Waymo spokesperson was not immediately available for comment regarding the ongoing investigation.
The NHTSA’s continued investigation underscores the critical need for rigorous testing and validation of autonomous vehicle systems, particularly in sensitive environments like school zones. The outcome of this probe could significantly impact Waymo’s expansion plans and the broader adoption of self-driving technology.
