The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into Waymo robotaxis for failing to stop for school buses in Austin, Texas. While Waymo maintains that its safety performance is superior to human drivers, federal investigators are examining why the vehicles continued to pass buses loading or unloading students even after a software update.
The federal government has intensified its scrutiny of autonomous driving technology following several reports of Waymo vehicles improperly navigating around school buses in Austin. This official investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board aims to analyze how the automated systems interact with student transportation. The move highlights growing concerns regarding how robotaxis interpret specific traffic laws designed to protect children.
The current probe follows a preliminary assessment by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which initially flagged the behavior of Waymo vehicles in the Texas capital. In response to those early findings, Waymo issued a voluntary software recall in December to rectify the issue. Despite this update, the local school district reported that the autonomous cars continued to commit the same traffic violations only days later.
Investigators from the federal agency are scheduled to arrive in Austin shortly to conduct a detailed evaluation of the reported incidents. They plan to gather comprehensive data on every instance where a vehicle failed to stop for students who were entering or exiting a bus. While a preliminary summary of their findings is expected within a month, the complete investigation is a long-term project that could take up to two years to finalize.
Waymo has defended its technology, stating that none of the incidents in question resulted in collisions. The company's chief safety officer expressed confidence in the system, arguing that their data shows autonomous vehicles perform better than human drivers in similar scenarios. He characterized the federal inquiry as a chance for the company to demonstrate its commitment to safety through transparent data sharing.
As the investigation unfolds, the results will likely influence future regulations for the autonomous vehicle industry across the United States. The tension between the company's internal safety claims and the observations of local school officials remains a primary focus for federal regulators. For now, the robotaxis continue to operate under heightened oversight as the NTSB works toward its final safety recommendations.
Source: NTSB Investigates Why Waymo Robotaxis Pass School Buses Illegally