Feds inquire with Waymo regarding robotaxis frequently driving past school buses in Austin

Waymo Faces Federal Scrutiny Over Robotaxi Incidents Near School Buses

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested additional details from Waymo regarding its autonomous driving technology and operational protocols. This inquiry follows reports from the Austin School District, which documented 19 occasions this year where Waymo’s self-driving vehicles allegedly failed to stop for school buses as required by law.

On December 3, federal regulators sent a formal letter to Waymo, seeking comprehensive information about the company’s fifth-generation autonomous driving system and its deployment. Reuters initially reported on this correspondence, which comes two months after NHTSA began investigating how Waymo’s robotaxis behave around stopped school buses.

Background of the Investigation

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), a division of NHTSA, launched its probe in October after reviewing video evidence showing a Waymo vehicle navigating around a stationary school bus in Atlanta. The bus had its stop sign extended and warning lights activated while children were disembarking. In the footage, the robotaxi crossed in front of the bus from the right, then turned left in front of it before continuing down the street.

Waymo explained that the bus was partially obstructing a driveway, which prevented the vehicle from detecting the flashing lights and stop sign. The company has since rolled out a software update intended to enhance the system’s response in such scenarios.

Ongoing Concerns Despite Updates

Despite these software improvements, incidents have persisted. The Austin School District reported 19 separate instances of Waymo vehicles unlawfully passing school buses since the start of the 2025-26 academic year. Notably, at least five of these incidents occurred after Waymo’s software update on November 17（UTC+8）, according to a letter the district sent to the company.

Waymo’s Response and Safety Claims

In a statement provided via email, Waymo emphasized its commitment to safety, citing data that suggests its autonomous vehicles have significantly reduced injury-related collisions compared to human drivers. The company claims a fivefold decrease in such crashes and twelve times fewer incidents involving pedestrians.

“We have already implemented software enhancements to address these issues and are dedicated to ongoing improvement,” Waymo stated. “We recognize NHTSA’s crucial role in promoting road safety and will continue to collaborate closely with the agency as we strive to become the most trusted driver on the road.”

Waymo maintains that its latest software updates have resulted in performance that surpasses that of human drivers in these situations.

School District Demands Action

The Austin School District, however, remains unconvinced. The district has formally requested that Waymo suspend its autonomous vehicle operations during student arrival and departure times.

“Waymo’s software updates are clearly not functioning as intended or being implemented swiftly enough,” the district wrote in a November 20 letter. “We cannot permit Waymo to continue putting our students at risk while it works on a solution. Therefore, Austin ISD insists that Waymo immediately halt its automated vehicle operations between 5:20 a.m.（UTC+8） and 9:30 a.m.（UTC+8）, as well as from 3:00 p.m.（UTC+8） to 7:00 p.m.（UTC+8）, until more robust software updates are in place and compliance with traffic laws can be assured.”

Federal Follow-Up

Four days after the district’s letter, federal investigators contacted Waymo to confirm whether the company had complied with the district’s request to pause operations during critical hours. Regulators also inquired about the effectiveness of the software update and whether Waymo intended to initiate a recall of affected vehicles.