Waymo Under Investigation for Robotaxi Safety Issues in Austin

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Waymo's robotaxi operations in Austin, Texas, following reports from the Austin School District that its vehicles illegally passed school buses 19 times during the 2025-26 school year.

In a December 3 letter, regulators requested detailed information about Waymo's fifth-generation self-driving system and its operations. This inquiry follows an initial investigation opened in October after an incident in Atlanta where a Waymo robotaxi maneuvered around a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and lights flashing.

Waymo stated that the bus was partially blocking the driveway, which obstructed the vehicle's view of the stop sign and flashing lights. The company reported issuing a software update intended to enhance performance; however, reports of illegal passing of school buses continued, including at least five incidents post-update on November 17.

In response to these ongoing safety concerns, the Austin School District has requested Waymo to cease operations during critical school hours, specifically from 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., until more thorough software updates can be implemented.

Waymo maintains that its robotaxis are safer than human drivers, citing data showing a fivefold reduction in injury-related crashes compared to human driver statistics, as well as a twelvefold decrease in injury crashes involving pedestrians.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has also reached out to inquire whether Waymo has complied with the school district's request and if their software fix sufficiently addresses the safety concerns.