Waymo plans software update to address robotaxi interactions with school buses

Waymo Initiates Voluntary Software Recall Over School Bus Safety Concerns

Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced plans to proactively submit a software recall to federal safety authorities, addressing how its autonomous vehicles interact with school buses.

The company stated that the recall documentation will be submitted early next week. After identifying the issue, Waymo rolled out a software update on November 17. According to Waymo, this update has significantly enhanced the system’s handling of school bus scenarios, reportedly surpassing human driver performance in these situations.

Software Recalls in the Age of Autonomous Vehicles

With the increasing reliance on software in both modern passenger cars and self-driving vehicles, software recalls have become more frequent. Often, companies implement fixes before officially filing a recall, but these actions still carry regulatory significance once reported to federal agencies.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Recent Incidents

Waymo’s move comes amid heightened oversight from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and criticism from officials in cities like Atlanta and Austin regarding the behavior of its robotaxis near school buses.

In October, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) launched an inquiry after video footage showed a Waymo vehicle navigating around a stationary school bus in Atlanta. The bus had its stop sign extended and lights flashing while children were unloading. The footage revealed the robotaxi crossing in front of the bus from the right, then making a left turn around the front before continuing down the street.

Similar events have been reported in Austin, where Waymo operates its robotaxi service in partnership with Uber. According to a letter from the Austin School District, available on the NHTSA website, at least five such incidents occurred after Waymo’s software update was deployed.

On December 3, NHTSA sent a letter to Waymo requesting further details about its autonomous driving technology and operational protocols. This followed reports from the Austin School District that Waymo vehicles had unlawfully passed school buses 19 times in the current year. Regulators specifically asked for comprehensive information about the company’s fifth-generation self-driving system.

Waymo’s Response and Commitment to Safety

“Although our safety record demonstrates that Waymo vehicles are involved in twelve times fewer pedestrian injury crashes than human drivers, upholding the highest safety standards means acknowledging areas for improvement,” said Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s Chief Safety Officer, in a statement. “Therefore, we have chosen to voluntarily recall our software with NHTSA to address proper slowing and stopping near school buses. We remain dedicated to evaluating our vehicles’ performance and implementing necessary updates as part of our ongoing commitment to safety.”

Waymo emphasized that no injuries have resulted from the behaviors addressed by this recall. The company reiterated its prioritization of safety and its intention to continue collaborating with NHTSA.

Ongoing monitoring, investigation, and further software enhancements will continue as needed, according to Waymo.

Previous Recalls

Earlier this year, Waymo also issued a voluntary software recall, bringing the total to two in 2024. One recall followed an incident in Phoenix where a driverless Waymo vehicle struck a telephone pole during a low-speed maneuver in an alley.