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Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds say
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- Nearly a year after Waymo issued a recall and software update to address its robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new investigation into continued incidents.
- The NHTSA reported that most violations occurred after Waymo deployed the software update in November 2025, prompting the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation to launch a "recall query" to evaluate the effectiveness of the fix.
- Initial investigation began in October 2025 following footage of a Waymo vehicle illegally maneuvering around a stopped school bus in Atlanta, with additional incidents reported in Austin, including at least five documented by the local school district.
- Waymo emphasized its commitment to safety, noting significant improvements and no citations since March 2026, and stated it will cooperate with NHTSA’s inquiry while highlighting the ongoing learning and improvement of its autonomous vehicle software.
