Federal Authorities Inquire Waymo About Robotaxis Repeatedly Passing School Buses in Austin

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has requested additional details from Waymo regarding its autonomous driving technology after the Austin School District reported 19 instances this year in which the companys driverless vehicles unlawfully passed school buses.

In a letter dated December 3, regulators sought extensive information about the companys fifth-generation self-driving platform and its operational procedures. This inquiry follows an investigation launched two months earlier, triggered by concerns about how Waymo vehicles behave when approaching stopped school buses.

The investigation was initiated in October after officials reviewed video of a Waymo car navigating around a stationary school bus in Atlanta. The bus had its stop arm deployed and lights activated while children were unloading. The vehicle proceeded across the front of the bus and continued on its route, prompting federal scrutiny.

Waymo stated that the bus partially obstructed its vehicles line of sight, preventing sensors from detecting the signals. The company reported issuing a software update to address the issue, though Austin officials claim that violations have persisted. According to district records, five of the 19 recorded incidents occurred after a system update on November 17.

In response, Waymo emphasized that safety remains its highest priority and pointed to data showing reductions in collision-related injuries compared with human drivers. The company also reiterated its ongoing commitment to improving system performance and cooperating with federal regulators.

Despite these assurances, Austin School District administrators argue that current improvements are insufficient. They have formally asked the company to suspend robotaxi operations during peak student travel hours, citing ongoing risks near school transportation routes.

On November 20, district officials sent a letter insisting that autonomous operations stop between 5:209:30 a.m. and 3:007:00 p.m. until further software enhancements ensure full compliance with school bus safety requirements. Four days later, federal investigators contacted Waymo asking whether the request had been honored, whether recent updates have mitigated the issue, and whether a recall is under consideration.

Author: Natalie Monroe