Federal Investigation into Waymo's Autonomous Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an inquiry into Waymo, following claims that their self-driving taxis engaged in prohibited maneuvers by passing stationary school buses in Austin, Texas.

In correspondence sent to Waymo, the federal regulator's Office of Defects Investigation requested comprehensive details about Waymo’s fifth-generation autonomous driving technology. There is growing concern about unexpected or illegal actions taken by these Alphabet-owned vehicles near school buses.

Incidents in Texas and Georgia

This inquiry stems from a similar investigation initiated in October concerning an occurrence in Georgia. Evidence surfaced showing one of Waymo's robotic cars passing a stopped bus that was displaying flashing red lights and stationed with stop signs extended. Waymo, prioritizing safety, reported that they had executed a software update to address this issue.

Despite these measures, the problem appears unresolved. The Austin Independent School District provided documentation of 19 incidents this school year, documenting Waymo vehicles disregarding stopped school buses. Notably, five of these events transpired following the software modification purported to fix the issue.

School District's Reaction

The school district has appealed to Waymo, requesting the cessation of their self-driving operations during times when children are being picked up or dropped off. However, the company declined to halt operations, and a further incident was reported on December 1, involving a bus in the process of loading students.

NHTSA's Follow-up

By November 24, the NHTSA explicitly sought clarification from Waymo on whether they had complied with requests to pause operations during these critical times, alongside confirmation of any applied software solutions.

Waymo's Past Regulatory Challenges

This isn't the initial regulatory challenge faced by Waymo. In 2024, similar scrutiny arose over reports of erratic driving behaviors by their vehicles.

As Waymo aims to expand into over 20 cities, this investigation highlights the challenges autonomous vehicle companies face as they innovate and expand their operational domains.

Representatives from Waymo were unavailable for immediate comment regarding the current investigation.