US authorities investigating Waymo for self-driving cars illegally passing school buses in Texas

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Waymo after reports surfaced that its autonomous vehicles were seen passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas. A letter from NHTSA to Waymo dated Dec. 3 confirmed the evaluation.

According to the Austin Independent School District (AISD) police, Waymo vehicles have been cited 20 times for this behavior, yet the company has continued operations without pausing. Video evidence from AISD documented at least 19 cases since the start of the school year where Waymo cars moved past buses with red lights flashing and stop arms extended, despite pedestrians being present on streets and crosswalks. Some footage shows vehicles initially slowing or stopping before continuing past the buses.

In its correspondence, NHTSA stated it is reviewing "the performance of the Waymo ADS around stopped school buses and the systems ability to follow traffic safety laws concerning school buses." The agency noted that such driving patterns, if uncorrected, could heighten the risk of accidents, injuries, or property damage.

AISD Chief of Police Wayne Sneed emphasized that Waymo has refused to suspend operations. He highlighted a Dec. 1, 2025 incident where a Waymo vehicle passed a bus that had been stopped for nearly a minute with students boarding, describing it as a clear violation of state law. Sneed noted that although Waymo claimed to have implemented programming changes in mid-November, the December incident suggests the problem persists.

Previously, a Nov. 20 NHTSA letter indicated that five similar incidents occurred after Waymo reported software updates intended to fix the issue. Waymo told FOX Business that updates had been applied by Nov. 17 and asserted that the adjustments have "meaningfully improved performance," even exceeding typical human driver behavior. The company also stated that its data show vehicles proceed cautiously when no pedestrians are present.

Waymo reaffirmed its commitment to road safety and said it will continue refining its systems for safe interaction with school buses. The investigation coincides with Waymo's reported plans to expand its autonomous ride service to Dallas in 2026, with ongoing road tests already underway in the city.

Analysis: Ongoing Safety Concerns with Waymo’s School Bus Interactions

The recent NHTSA investigation into Waymo highlights persistent safety concerns regarding autonomous vehicle compliance with school bus traffic laws. Despite multiple citations from Austin Independent School District police and documented video evidence of vehicles passing stopped buses, Waymo has maintained full operations, raising questions about regulatory oversight and public safety.

Data presented to NHTSA show at least 19 confirmed incidents since the start of the school year. While Waymo asserts that software updates have improved vehicle behavior, recent events—including a Dec. 1, 2025 violation—indicate the problem has not been fully resolved. This pattern underscores potential gaps in the company’s testing and implementation of autonomous driving safeguards.

The investigation arrives as Waymo prepares to expand services to Dallas, signaling that regulatory scrutiny will remain critical to ensure autonomous vehicles do not compromise pedestrian safety. The situation illustrates the challenges in aligning automated systems with existing traffic laws and emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting.

Sources:

• US investigating Waymo after footage captures self-driving cars illegally moving past school buses in Texas