Waymo school bus violations lead to new safety probe

Waymos self-driving technology is under federal review after multiple reports of its vehicles breaking traffic laws near school buses in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation to assess whether the autonomous system can properly comply with safety regulations when school buses are present.

According to NHTSA, the inquiry began after an incident in Atlanta in which a Waymo vehicle did not remain stopped while a school bus was unloading children. The agency is examining both the functionality of the automated driving system and its adherence to laws designed to protect students.

In Austin, the school district has documented over 19 instances of Waymo vehicles passing halted buses since the start of the academic year. The district stated that five of the violations occurred after Waymo claimed it had implemented corrective software updates. Officials requested that the company suspend operations during student pickup and drop-off hours until reliable fixes are established.

The district warned that the average rate of these violations is currently 1.5 per week, emphasizing that student safety cannot be compromised while technical adjustments are ongoing.

Waymo has refused to suspend service during bus hours but reported that updates were deployed quickly and that ongoing improvements will continue. The company reaffirmed that it is monitoring performance to prevent additional incidents.

NHTSA has requested detailed data from Waymo, including safety reports and information related to its protocols for operating around stopped school buses. The agency indicated that unexpected driving behavior around children could elevate risks of crashes and injuries.

If Waymo does not fully comply with federal requests, it could face civil penalties of up to $27,874 per violation per day. The company must respond by January 20 and may seek a deadline extension if submitted within the required timeframe.

Author: Connor Blake