Screenshot of one of many incidents of a Waymo robotaxi illegally passing a stopped faculty bus. | Credit score: Austin ISD
Waymo this week plans to file a voluntary software program recall for its robotaxis. The recall is in response to the corporate’s robotaxis illegally passing stopped faculty buses in various incidents throughout totally different states.
In September, WXIA-TV in Atlanta aired a video displaying a Waymo illegally passing a stopped faculty bus. A month later, the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Waymo round “site visitors security violations referring to stopping when encountering a college bus, significantly when the bus is boarding or offboarding college students.”
In its investigation, the NHTSA stated a Waymo autonomous automobile (AV) failed to stay stopped when approaching a college bus that was stopped with its lights flashing, cease arm deployed, and a crossing management arm deployed. No security driver was within the automobile through the incident, and the automobile was working utilizing Waymo’s Fifth-generation driver. As a part of the investigation, the NHTSA issued a listing of detailed questions concerning the incidents to Waymo.
The NHTSA web site additionally features a letter from the Austin Impartial College District, signed by the district’s senior counsel. Within the letter, faculty district officers say they’ve recorded 19 totally different cases of a Waymo robotaxi “illegally and dangerously” passing Austin faculty buses for the reason that 2025-2026 faculty 12 months. Moreover, a type of incidents concerned a Waymo automobile passing a college bus “solely moments after a scholar crossed in entrance of the automobile, and whereas the scholar was nonetheless within the street.”
In accordance with the letter, 5 of those incidents occurred after Waymo assured the varsity district that it had issued software program updates that might treatment the difficulty. Within the letter, the Austin Impartial College District requested Waymo stop operations through the instances faculty buses could be loading and unloading.
Waymo chief security officer Mauricio Peña despatched the next assertion to The Robotic Report: “Whereas we’re extremely pleased with our robust security report displaying Waymo experiences twelve instances fewer damage crashes involving pedestrians than human drivers, holding the very best security requirements means recognizing when our conduct ought to be higher. Consequently, we’ve got made the choice to file a voluntary software program recall with NHTSA associated to appropriately slowing and stopping in these situations. We are going to proceed analyzing our automobiles’ efficiency and making crucial fixes as a part of our dedication to steady enchancment.”
Waymo advised NPR it has recognized the software program situation that contributed to the incidents and believes subsequent updates will repair the difficulty. No accidents have occurred throughout these points, in line with Waymo.
Waymo’s security report to this point
In accordance with NHTSA, Waymo’s robotaxis surpassed 100 million miles of driving in July 2025, and the corporate continues to build up 2 million miles per week. The corporate at present operates autonomous robotaxis in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Within the U.S., Waymo robotaxis have already pushed greater than 10 million paid rides.
Waymo final issued a voluntary recall in Might 2025, when it recalled 1,212 robotaxis to handle dangers of collisions with chains, gates, and different roadway boundaries. The corporate stated it resolved the underlying software program situation by way of a November 2024 replace that decreased the chance of all these occasions.
In accordance with Waymo’s personal security knowledge, its automobiles had been concerned in 91% fewer severe accidents or worse crashes, no matter who’s at fault for the crash. Moreover, its automobiles had been in 92% fewer pedestrian crashes than human drivers.
The corporate shall be beneath rising scrutiny because it continues to increase its service. Waymo intends to increase or launch companies in Nashville, Las Vegas, San Diego, Detroit, Washington D.C., Miami, Dallas, Seattle, Houston, Orlando, San Antonio, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Denver within the coming years.
As well as, Waymo is planning to convey its know-how abroad. It stated it needs to deploy in London in 2026, and it has already deployed check automobiles in Tokyo to be taught native site visitors patterns.
Waymo dominates the robotaxi house within the U.S., however there are a selection of corporations making an attempt to catch up. In June 2025, Tesla launched a robotaxi service in Austin. Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary, launched its first public service in San Francisco in November 2025. Moreover, Nuro, a Mountain View, Calif.-based startup, not too long ago closed a Collection E spherical of $203 million at a $6 billion valuation.
The Robotic Report named Waymo its Robotic of the 12 months in 2025.