Waymo has responded to the U.S. safety regulator’s request in connection with a January 2026 incident in which one of its robotaxis struck a nine-year-old girl. The company has delivered documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of the probe, though all material released publicly so far is fully redacted, citing protections for confidential business information.
The crash occurred on January 23 in Santa Monica, California. A Waymo Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi was moving about 17 mph near a school when the girl stepped into the street. The vehicle braked and slowed to 6 mph before it collided with her near its front-right headlight area. She was able to stand and walk afterward and needed no medical transport. The incident fell under review both by the NHTSA and, separately, by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which published a preliminary report in March. The NTSB investigation typically spans about a year and concludes with a full technical report.
What NHTSA Is Seeking From Waymo
Back in March, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent 12 detailed questions (with additional sub-questions) to Waymo. The requests covered how the robotaxi determines speed limits in school zones, whether there have been complaints about its behavior near schools, and specific documentation on its software and operational practices. Waymo had until May 8 to submit responses, but requested an extension.
In a letter dated May 1, Waymo asked the agency for both clarification on several questions and more time to comply, arguing the scope of information requested would lead to burdensome review and production. Then on July 8, Waymo delivered responses to some questions. NHTSA approved additional time for Waymo to answer about ten out of the twelve questions, and by mid-August the company declared its submissions complete.
Current Status and Next Steps
On Friday, an initial batch of Waymo’s responses was posted to NHTSA’s website. However, all of the released content is redacted, limiting public insight into what exactly Waymo submitted. NHTSA says it is still reviewing additional materials and plans to make them available in the investigation’s public file upon completion of its review.
The fact that the responses have finally arrived—and that Waymo was granted extra time—signals the investigation is moving forward. How Waymo handles speed determination in sensitive zones like near schools, complaint tracking, and the details of its control software are likely to be key to assessing whether the robotaxi’s behavior met existing safety expectations.
This probe matters for the broader trajectory of autonomous vehicle deployments. As robotaxi companies push forward, how they handle collisions—especially involving vulnerable road users like children—could define public trust and regulatory boundaries. Observers should track future releases from NHTSA and NTSB, especially how redacted these turn out and what reforms or safeguards Waymo and its peers may be required to adopt.
