Federal Scrutiny Intensifies Over Waymo’s Robotaxis Passing School Buses in Austin
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified its investigation into Waymo’s autonomous vehicles following multiple reports from the Austin Independent School District. These reports allege that Waymo’s robotaxis have unlawfully passed stopped school buses on 19 occasions during the current school year.
On December 3, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent a letter to Waymo, requesting comprehensive details about the company’s fifth-generation self-driving system and its operational protocols. This inquiry follows an earlier investigation initiated in October, prompted by footage showing a Waymo vehicle maneuvering around a stopped school bus in Atlanta. In that incident, the robotaxi crossed in front of the bus, which had its stop sign extended and lights flashing, while children were disembarking.
Waymo responded by stating that the bus was partially obstructing a driveway, preventing the robotaxi from detecting the bus’s flashing lights or stop sign. The company subsequently issued a software update aimed at enhancing the performance of its autonomous vehicles in such scenarios.
Despite these measures, the Austin School District reported 19 instances of Waymo’s robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses since the start of the 2025-26 school year. Notably, at least five of these incidents occurred after the implementation of the November 17 software update.
In a statement, Waymo emphasized its commitment to safety, highlighting data indicating a fivefold reduction in injury-related crashes compared to human drivers and 12 times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians. The company acknowledged the importance of NHTSA’s role in road safety and expressed its dedication to ongoing collaboration with the agency.
The Austin School District, expressing concern over the continued incidents, has requested that Waymo suspend its operations during specific hours when students are arriving at and departing from school. In a letter dated November 20, the district stated, Waymo’s software updates are clearly not working as intended nor as quickly as required. We cannot allow Waymo to continue endangering our students while it attempts to implement a fix.
Federal regulators have inquired whether Waymo has ceased operations in accordance with the school district’s request, whether the software update has effectively addressed the issue, and if the company plans to initiate a recall.
This situation underscores the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle companies in ensuring their systems can safely and effectively navigate complex real-world scenarios, particularly those involving vulnerable road users such as school children.
