US investigates Waymo robotaxis over safety around school buses

"The US's main transportation safety regulator said on Monday it had opened a preliminary investigation into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles after reports that the company's robotaxis may have failed to follow traffic safety laws around stopped school buses. The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the latest federal review of self-driving systems as regulators scrutinize how driverless technologies interact with pedestrians, cyclists and other road users."

"NHTSA said the Office of Defects Investigation opened the review after flagging a media report describing an incident in which a Waymo autonomous vehicle did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm extended. The report said the Waymo vehicle initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered around its front, passing the extended stop arm and crossing control arm while students were disembarking."

NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles after reports that robotaxis may have failed to follow traffic safety laws around stopped school buses. The Office of Defects Investigation opened the review after flagging a media report that a Waymo autonomous vehicle did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus with red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm extended. The report said the vehicle initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered around its front while students were disembarking. Waymo operates over 1,500 robotaxis across US cities and plans expansion to London and Tokyo. Waymo developed and implemented improvements.

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