U.S. Safety Regulator Opens Probe Into Waymo Robotaxis Over School Bus Incident

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary investigation into about 2,000 Waymo robotaxis, following reports that a Waymo vehicle may have improperly maneuvered around a stopped school bus. The inquiry focuses on the vehicles’ automated driving systems and how they behave in scenarios involving children and crossing hazards.

According to the regulator, the probe was triggered after a media report described an incident in Atlanta where a Waymo robotaxi — equipped with its fifth-generation Automated Driving System and operating without a human safety driver — reportedly drove around a school bus that had flashing red lights, a deployed stop arm, and a crossing control arm extended while students were disembarking. The vehicle first stopped beside the bus, then proceeded around its front, effectively passing the bus’s safety equipment.

Waymo responded by stating that the vehicle approached from an angle where the bus’s lights and stop sign were obscured, and that it drove cautiously, maintaining distance from children. The company further said it has already introduced improvements related to school bus interactions and plans additional software updates in future releases.

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation will examine whether Waymo’s systems failed to comply with U.S. traffic safety laws or posed an “unreasonable risk” in such situations. Coverage of Waymo robotaxi operations includes cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where its fleet handles thousands of daily trips.

This new inquiry comes months after the NHTSA closed a 14-month investigation into Waymo’s driving behavior and minor collisions without further action. At that time, the regulator noted Waymo’s proactive safety updates and lack of confirmed defect in the previous case.

As autonomous vehicle deployment accelerates, safety in complex, human-sensitive scenarios like school zones is under heightened scrutiny. The outcome of this investigation could influence regulatory standards across the self-driving industry and how future robotaxi systems are engineered.