The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recently reached out to Waymo for further information regarding its self-driving system and operations. This request follows reports from the Austin School District that Waymo’s robotaxis have been illegally passing school buses on 19 occasions this year.
In a letter dated December 3, regulators asked Waymo to provide detailed information about its fifth-generation self-driving system and operations. This move comes after the agency initiated an investigation into Waymo’s robotaxis and how they interact with stopped school buses two months ago.
The investigation was prompted by footage showing a Waymo autonomous vehicle maneuvering around a stopped school bus in Atlanta, where the bus had its stop sign extended and lights flashing while unloading children. In response, Waymo stated that the bus was partially blocking the driveway, making it difficult for the robotaxi to see the flashing lights or stop sign. The company issued a software update to address this issue and improve performance.
Despite the software update, the Austin School District reported 19 instances of Waymo automated vehicles illegally passing school buses since the start of the 2025-26 school year. Five of these incidents occurred after Waymo’s software update on November 17, according to the school district.
Waymo emphasized that safety is its top priority and highlighted data showing a significant reduction in injury-related crashes compared to human drivers. The company stated that its robotaxis have experienced a fivefold reduction in injury-related crashes and a 12x decrease in injury crashes involving pedestrians.
In response to the ongoing concerns, the Austin School District requested that Waymo halt operations during specific times of the day when students are arriving and departing from school. The district expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of Waymo’s software updates and demanded immediate action to ensure compliance with the law.
Federal regulators from the Office of Defects Investigation also contacted Waymo following the school district’s request, questioning whether operations had been suspended as requested, if the software fix had addressed the issue, and if a recall was being considered.
Waymo maintains that its software updates have significantly improved performance and surpassed that of human drivers in this area. However, the Austin School District remains adamant about the need for more thorough software updates before allowing Waymo to resume operations during peak school hours. The collaboration between Waymo and regulatory authorities continues as both parties work towards enhancing road safety and compliance with regulations.
