NHTSA Launches Investigation into Waymo Self-Driving Cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it is investigating around 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles following reports suggesting these robotaxis might have violated traffic safety rules concerning stopped school buses.

This investigation marks yet another federal analysis of autonomous driving systems as authorities focus on how the technology interacts with pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers.

NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations began looking into media accounts of an incident where a Waymo self-driving car reportedly did not stop when it approached a school bus that had flashing red lights, a deployed stop arm, and a crossing control arm extended.

According to reports, the Waymo vehicle first stopped next to the bus and then moved around the front, driving past the extended stop arm and crossing control arm while students were getting off the bus.

A spokesperson for Waymo indicated that the company has already made improvements to their protocols for school bus stops and intends to release software updates in the near future.

They stated, “Driving safely around children has always been one of Waymo’s top priorities. In the noted incident, the vehicle approached the school bus from a position that did not show flashing lights or stop signs, and it cautiously drove past while keeping a safe distance from the children.”

NHTSA noted that the vehicle involved was using Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving system (ADS) and was operating without a human safety driver at the time.

Waymo’s fleet includes over 1,500 robotaxis in major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin.

Moreover, the Alphabet-owned company is considering international expansion, eyeing launches in cities like Tokyo and London in the coming years.