The US’s major transportation security regulator mentioned on Monday it had opened a preliminary investigation into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving autos after stories that the corporate’s robotaxis might have did not observe site visitors security legal guidelines round stopped college buses.
The investigation by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) is the newest federal evaluation of self-driving techniques as regulators scrutinize how driverless applied sciences work together with pedestrians, cyclists and different highway customers.
NHTSA mentioned the Workplace of Defects Investigation opened the evaluation after flagging a media report describing an incident through which a Waymo autonomous car didn’t stay stationary when approaching a college bus with its purple lights flashing, cease arm deployed and crossing management arm prolonged.
The report mentioned the Waymo car initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered round its entrance, passing the prolonged cease arm and crossing management arm whereas college students had been disembarking.
after publication promotion
Waymo has mentioned its robotaxi fleet has greater than 1,500 autos working throughout main US cities, together with Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin and New York Metropolis subsequent 12 months. The Alphabet-owned firm additionally plans to increase internationally, with launches in cities together with London in 2026 Tokyo within the coming years.
A Waymo spokesperson mentioned the corporate had “already developed and carried out enhancements associated to stopping for college buses and can land further software program updates in our subsequent software program launch”.
The corporate added: “Driving safely round kids has all the time been considered one of Waymo’s highest priorities. Within the occasion referenced, the car approached the college bus from an angle the place the flashing lights and cease signal weren’t seen and drove slowly across the entrance of the bus earlier than driving previous it, retaining a secure distance from kids.”
NHTSA mentioned the car concerned was geared up with Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving system and was working with no human security driver on the time of the incident.
