Waymo’s School Bus Slip Sparks Federal Investigation
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle division, Waymo, following allegations that one of its self-driving cars violated traffic laws by passing a stationary school bus. The report comes via Reuters.
A recent video report showed a Waymo vehicle in Georgia driving past a school bus that had its red lights flashing and stop sign extended while students were disembarking. According to the report, the vehicle initially halted but then slowly proceeded in front of the bus.
In response to the incident, NHTSA has opened a preliminary probe into approximately 2,000 Waymo vehicles. The agency noted that Waymo’s autonomous driving system has already logged over 100 million miles and continues to cover around two million miles weekly — making similar incidents a matter of concern.
Waymo stated that it has already upgraded its school bus safety software and that further improvements are expected in upcoming updates. The company emphasized, “Driving safely around children has always been Waymo’s top priority.”
Currently, Waymo operates around 1,500 robotaxis across major U.S. cities including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin.
