Waymo autonomous vehicles violate school bus safety laws in Texas
Waymo autonomous vehicles repeatedly violated Texas school bus safety laws in Austin, with 24 documented incidents during the 2025-2026 school year. Austin ISD requested suspension of operations during school hours, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a federal investigation, prompting Waymo to issue a voluntary software recall in December 2025.
What happened
Austin ISD reported 24 school bus traffic violations by Waymo vehicles during the 2025-2026 school year, with incidents involving Waymo cars illegally passing district buses. During the week of December 8, Waymo issued a voluntary software recall after AISD recorded 20 incidents of Waymo cars illegally passing district buses, averaging 1.5 violations a week. Four additional violations occurred after the recall was issued.
Reported impact
Austin ISD requested that Waymo suspend its autonomous vehicle operations during morning and afternoon school bus hours. Texas state law mandates that drivers stop on both sides of the road for a school bus with a stop sign or flashing red lights, unless the bus is stopped on the opposite side of a divided highway.
Index analysis
The incidents represent a failure of Waymo's autonomous vehicle system to comply with Texas traffic laws governing school bus safety, a basic regulatory requirement for autonomous vehicle operation.
Governance controls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a federal investigation into Waymo following the violations. Waymo's voluntary software recall in early December was issued in response to the school bus traffic violations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.