Waymo Faces Urgent NHTSA Investigation Over School Bus Violations

UPDATE: Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are under urgent scrutiny as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into multiple traffic violations involving stopped school buses in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. This comes after reports confirmed that Waymo’s robotaxis have been cited for failing to comply with critical traffic safety laws.

The NHTSA is examining Waymo’s automated driving technology after an incident in October where one of its vehicles “failed to remain stopped” near a school bus in Atlanta. Since the start of the school year, Waymo has accumulated 20 traffic citations in Austin alone for passing stopped school buses, according to a report from CBS Austin. Alarmingly, the Austin Independent School District (ISD) has acknowledged at least 19 of these violations.

In a letter dated November 20, 2023, Austin ISD expressed serious concerns, stating that Waymo is averaging 1.5 violations per week. The school district called for Waymo to “immediately cease” operations during peak school hours until comprehensive software updates are completed. The letter highlights the district’s position: “We cannot allow Waymo to continue endangering our students while it attempts to implement a fix.”

Waymo pushed back against this request, maintaining that it had already implemented software updates to mitigate the issue. Officials from Waymo reassured the public, stating they are committed to “tracking and implementing more updates as needed.” However, the NHTSA has warned Waymo that failure to comply with its directives could result in civil penalties, with fines reaching as high as $27,874 per violation per day.

The NHTSA’s investigation reflects growing concerns over the safety of autonomous driving systems, especially in sensitive areas like school zones. Authorities have requested detailed information from Waymo, including vehicle incident reports and specifics on how the company ensures compliance with traffic safety laws around school buses.

“ODI is concerned that ADS-equipped vehicles exhibiting such unexpected driving behaviors or not complying with traffic safety laws concerning school buses may increase the risk of crash, injury, and property damage,” NHTSA stated in its communication with Waymo.

Waymo is now under significant pressure to resolve these issues swiftly, with a response to the NHTSA due by January 20, 2024. The company can request an extension but must do so no later than five business days before the deadline.

This investigation comes at a tumultuous time for Waymo, as it faces not only safety scrutiny but also public backlash over its operational decisions. As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, the stakes are higher than ever, especially when children’s safety is at risk.

As developments unfold, all eyes will be on Waymo’s response and the implications it may have for the future of autonomous driving in school zones. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story.