NHTSA investigates Waymo robotaxi that illegally passed school bus
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation into Waymo's approximately 2,000 autonomous vehicles after one was filmed illegally passing a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and stop arm deployed while children were exiting. Waymo stated the vehicle approached the bus at an angle that made the stop signals invisible, but acknowledged the traffic violation occurred.
What happened
A Waymo robotaxi was filmed illegally passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and stop arm deployed. After a brief stop, the vehicle without a human safety driver maneuvered to pass the bus in front while children were exiting.
Waymo stated the vehicle approached the bus at an angle that rendered the stop signals invisible, and claimed it proceeded slowly and at a safe distance, but acknowledged the traffic violation.
Reported impact
The incident occurred with students in proximity to the passing vehicle, creating a safety risk for children near the school bus.
Index analysis
The NHTSA investigation targets approximately 2,000 vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth-generation autonomous driving system. Regulators are examining whether the incident reveals a systemic flaw in the technology's ability to correctly interact with vulnerable road users.
Governance controls
The investigation is part of increased regulatory oversight of autonomous driving technologies as they expand in the United States.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.