Waymo probed by National Transportation Safety Board over illegal school bus behavior

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into Waymo following reports of its robotaxis illegally overtaking stopped school buses in at least two states. Focused particularly on over 20 incidents in Austin, Texas, the NTSB announced through a post on X that investigators will be traveling to the city to collect more information on these troubling occurrences. The automated vehicles reportedly failed to halt for students getting on or off the buses, raising significant safety concerns. A preliminary report from the NTSB is anticipated within the next 30 days, with a comprehensive final report expected to follow in 12 to 24 months. This marks the first time Waymo has faced an investigation from the NTSB, although it is the second probe related to the school bus issue, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) having opened a similar investigation last October. In response to these incidents, Waymo had previously issued a software recall last year aimed at rectifying the problem. However, the updates seem to have fallen short, prompting the Austin school district to request a suspension of Waymo's operations during peak student pickup and drop-off times. This investigation coincides with Waymo's aggressive expansion across the United States. Just recently, the company launched a robotaxi service in Miami, adding to its existing operations in cities like Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, emphasized that the company encounters thousands of school buses weekly without incident. He stated, “There have been no collisions in the events in question, and we are confident that our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers.” Peña expressed a commitment to transparency, viewing the NTSB's inquiry as an opportunity to showcase Waymo's safety-first approach. It is important to note that the NTSB differs from the NHTSA in its role; it does not have the authority to impose fines or penalties. Instead, the NTSB conducts thorough investigations to unearth the root causes of transportation issues, often leading to hearings and non-binding recommendations. The first significant incident involving a Waymo vehicle passing a stopped school bus occurred last September in Atlanta, where the robotaxi maneuvered in front of a bus as children were disembarking. Waymo has claimed that the vehicle in question could not detect the stop sign or flashing lights, but it later addressed this scenario through a software update. Nevertheless, additional reports of similar violations emerged from Austin, leading to footage captured by cameras on school buses that documented Waymo vehicles committing illegal acts multiple times. Peña acknowledged the ongoing discussions with the Austin Independent School District, praising their efforts to reduce violations by human drivers around school buses, which numbered over 10,000 annually.