Waymo Under Investigation After Crashing Into Child Outside Elementary School

"The incident, which took place on January 23, occurred after the child "suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly in our vehicle's path," Waymo claimed. The robotaxi "immediately detected" the pedestrian and "braked hard," slowing down from 17 miles per hour to under 6 miles per hour, before colliding with the child. "Following contact, the pedestrian stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk, and we called 911," the company claimed."

"That same day, Waymo says it reached out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has now opened an investigation into the autonomous vehicle company. In its report to the regulator, Waymo said the child had sustained "minor injuries," the NHTSA said in a recent filing. The accident comes as Waymo is already under scrutiny from regulators over reports of its robotaxis illegally blowing past stopped school buses, ignoring their warning lights and extended stop arm."

"The NHTSA opened an investigation into the phenomenon last October, and last week, the National Transportation Safety Board ramped up the pressure on the company by announcing its own. Over 20 school bus incidents were reported in Austin, Texas, and at least six in Atlanta, Georgia. In a particularly brazen flouting of traffic laws, one Waymo allegedly drove near the students who were disembarking from the bus."

A Waymo robotaxi struck a child on January 23 near an elementary school in Santa Monica after the child suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV. The vehicle immediately detected the pedestrian and braked hard, reducing speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact. Following the collision the pedestrian stood up, walked to the sidewalk, and emergency services were called; Waymo reported the child sustained minor injuries. Waymo notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the same day, and NHTSA opened an investigation. Regulators are already probing reports of Waymo robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses, and the NTSB has announced a separate review.

Read at Futurism