Waymo Faces Investigation Over School Bus Incidents

U.S. safety officials have initiated an investigation into Waymo after reports emerged that its self-driving cars were seen passing a stopped school bus in Austin, Texas. A letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to the company outlined concerns as of December 3.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) Police noted there have been 20 reported incidents involving Waymo vehicles, but the company has chosen to keep them operational until the matters are fully addressed.

Since the beginning of the school year, footage shared by AISD highlights that Waymo vehicles passed several school buses halted with red lights flashing and stop arms out, while pedestrians were visible in the vicinity. In some instances, the cars appeared to slow down or stop before proceeding past these buses.

NHTSA mentioned in its communication with Waymo that it is reviewing the performance of the company’s Automated Driving System (ADS) concerning compliance with traffic safety laws around stopped school buses.

AISD’s Police Chief, Wayne Snead, expressed concerns stating that Waymo has not halted its operations despite multiple requests. He pointed out a specific video from December 1 that showed a Waymo vehicle passing a bus while students were loading their belongings. The bus had been stationary, with its flashing lights activated, for nearly a full minute before the vehicle moved past—a behavior in violation of state law.

Snead added that although Waymo flagged program changes in mid-November to address previous violations, the incidents are still occurring. He noted that after the company’s reported update, five additional violations took place during November.

A Waymo spokesperson responded by claiming that as soon as they learned about the incidents, they quickly implemented an update by November 17, which they stated significantly enhanced performance. The company believes their vehicles displayed cautious behavior in situations where pedestrians were absent.

Waymo emphasized that ensuring road safety is their utmost priority and that they are committed to improving their interactions with school buses. They plan to keep implementing updates as needed.

This investigation and related discussions on safety come as Waymo gears up to expand its self-driving services to Dallas in 2026, with ongoing road tests currently taking place in the city.