The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration has requested Waymo for extra information about its self-driving system and operations following experiences from the Austin Faculty District that its robotaxis illegally handed faculty buses 19 occasions this yr.
In a December 3 letter despatched to Waymo, regulators requested detailed information about its fifth-generation self-driving system and operations. Reuters was the first to report on the letter, which comes two months since the company opened an investigation into Waymo over how its robotaxis carry out round stopped faculty buses.
The company’s Workplace of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened its initial investigation into the Alphabet-owned firm in October after seeing footage of a Waymo autonomous automobile maneuvering round a stopped faculty bus — with its cease signal prolonged and lights flashing — that was unloading children in Atlanta. In that incident, a Waymo robotaxi crossed perpendicularly in entrance of the faculty bus from its proper facet. The autonomous automobile then turned left round the entrance of the bus before touring down the road.
Waymo has stated the bus was partially blocking the driveway and that the robotaxi may not see the flashing lights or cease signal.
Waymo additionally stated it issued a software program replace to its fleet to enhance efficiency.
Stories of Waymo robotaxis illegally passing faculty buses has continued even after the repair. The Austin Faculty District has reported 19 completely different situations of Waymo automated automobiles illegally passing faculty buses since the starting of the 2025-26 faculty yr. The varsity district noted in a letter to Waymo that not less than 5 of those occurred after Waymo stated it up to date its software program on November 17.
In an emailed assertion, Waymo stated security is its prime precedence. The corporate additionally stated knowledge reveals its robotaxis are enhancing highway security, noting a fivefold discount in injury-related crashes in contrast to human drivers, and 12x fewer harm crashes involving pedestrians.
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“We’ve already made software program updates to enhance our efficiency and are dedicated to steady enchancment,” the assertion continued. “NHTSA performs a significant function in highway security, and we’ll proceed to work collaboratively with the company as a part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”
Waymo contends that the software program updates have meaningfully improved efficiency to a degree higher than human drivers on this space.
Austin Faculty District appears to disagree and has requested Waymo to stop operations throughout sure occasions of the day when college students are arriving and departing faculty.
“Waymo’s software program updates are clearly not working as meant nor as shortly as required,” the district’s November 20 letter to Waymo reads. “We can’t enable Waymo to proceed endangering our college students whereas it makes an attempt to implement a repair. Accordingly, Austin ISD calls for that Waymo instantly stop operation of its automated automobiles throughout the hours of 5:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and three:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., till extra in-depth software program updates are accomplished and Waymo can assure its automobiles will adjust to the regulation.”
Federal regulators with the Workplace of Defects Investigation sent Waymo a letter 4 days later noting that it had been alerted by Austin faculty district officers. The investigators requested if Waymo had ceased operations, per the faculty district’s request, if its software program repair mitigated this concern, and if Waymo deliberate to file a recall?
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