A Waymo autonomous taxi was recently seen navigating around a school bus with its red lights activated, prompting federal safety officials to launch an inquiry.
On Monday morning, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) had begun looking into an incident from early October, where a Waymo self-driving car was recorded maneuvering past a stationary school bus unloading children in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to ODI, the investigation will focus on how Waymo’s autonomous driving system responds to stopped school buses, the software’s compliance with relevant traffic laws, and other related issues. NHTSA stated that, based on its current interactions with Waymo, there is a strong possibility that similar incidents have occurred before.
The incident involved the Waymo robotaxi crossing in front of the school bus from the right, then making a left turn around the front of the bus before proceeding down the road. Waymo explained that the bus was partially blocking the driveway the robotaxi was exiting. The company asserted that the vehicle was unable to detect the flashing lights or the stop sign. Waymo did not immediately clarify whether the robotaxi could see the students disembarking or the bus’s stop arm.
“Safety is our highest priority as we deliver hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous paid rides each week in some of the nation’s most complex driving environments,” the company said in a statement, referencing data indicating its vehicles are involved in fewer accidents than those driven by humans. “NHTSA is essential to road safety, and we remain committed to working closely with the agency as we strive to become the world’s most trusted driver.”
Waymo also announced on Monday that it has already rolled out software updates to enhance its fleet’s performance.
This year has marked significant growth for Waymo. The company began operations in Atlanta, introduced its robotaxis to Austin, expanded throughout Silicon Valley, and is conducting tests in several other metropolitan regions, including New York City. Additionally, it is running trials at airports in San Jose and San Francisco, with plans to enter more cities by 2026.
When launching in new locations, the self-driving system must encounter and adapt to unfamiliar situations—though Atlanta is certainly not the first city where Waymo’s robotaxis have encountered school buses.
This isn’t the first time NHTSA has investigated Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. In 2023, the agency examined reports that Waymo’s cars had trouble with road barriers such as gates and chains at low speeds. That probe resulted in a recall in 2024, which Waymo addressed through a software update. Last year, NHTSA also launched an investigation after receiving reports that Waymo vehicles had entered incorrect lanes or construction zones.
