Waymo Plans Recall for Robotaxis Ignoring School Buses

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, announced plans to file a voluntary software recall with federal regulators early next week to address instances in which its robotaxis failed to properly stop for school buses in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. The move comes amid an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has documented at least 19 such incidents since the start of the school year in August 2024.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened its probe in October 2024 after receiving video footage of a Waymo vehicle in Atlanta passing a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and red lights flashing. In that case, the robotaxi crossed in front of the bus from the right side, turned left around the front, and proceeded down the street while children were unloading. Similar violations occurred in Austin, where local school district officials reported 20 citations issued to Waymo vehicles for passing stopped buses. Camera footage from buses affixed with recording devices since 2016 captured the robotaxis either slowing briefly before continuing or driving past entirely, sometimes while students...