Feds investigate Waymo robotaxis reportedly passing school buses

Waymo robotaxis have been offering public rides in Austin, Texas, since March, and following safety incidents with school buses, Austin school district officials asked the company to stop offering robotaxi rides during school drop-off hours.

Now, regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are investigating Waymo following complaints that its robo-taxis illegally passed school buses at least 19 times, according to Reuters.

NHTSA sent a letter to Waymo earlier this week informing it of the start of its investigation into the failure of its autonomous vehicles to comply with traffic laws regarding school buses. The letter also requested additional information about the company’s autonomous driving system.

An initial investigation into Waymo was launched in October by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) after obtaining video of a Waymo robotaxi driving around a school bus in Atlanta as the vehicle unloaded schoolchildren with its stop sign deployed and flashing lights on. The agency is now going even further in its investigation.

Waymo said it released a software patch to resolve the issue on November 17. However, in a public letter, the Austin Independent School District says five of 19 school bus-related Waymo incidents occurred. After this date.

“One of these violations highlights the urgent risk posed by Waymo’s illegal activity: an automated Waymo vehicle was recorded driving in front of a stopped school bus just moments after a student crossed in front of the vehicle, and while the student was still in the roadway,” the Austin School District said. wrote in a November 20 letter to Waymo. “The vehicle then crosses a pedestrian crossing and an intersection, where all other vehicles are stopped.”

The Austin School District is asking Waymo to stop operating its robotaxis from 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., times when children are typically picked up and dropped off before and after school.

The ODI sent its own letter to Waymo shortly thereafter, letting the company know it was aware of the issue and asking if Waymo planned to comply with the request to cease operations during these periods.

According to a report per TechCrunch, Waymo insists its update has improved road safety issues with its robotaxis around school buses. However, it doesn’t appear the company plans to meet the Austin school district’s request.