The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Waymo is under a preliminary investigation involving 2,000 of its self-driving vehicles. The probe concerns potential failures to stop for school buses displaying red lights and a deployed stop arm.
According to the Washington Post, as Waymo plans to expand its autonomous robotaxi service into Washington, D.C., local parents have expressed unease following reports that one of the company's vehicles passed a stopped school bus while children were disembarking. Families in neighborhoods near schools have voiced renewed concerns about child safety and the capability of driverless cars to operate safely in busy school zones. Officials indicate that Waymo's anticipated 2026 debut in D.C. will require thorough review before any driverless permits are issued.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25-013 after a video from Georgia showed a Waymo robotaxi "failed to remain stopped when approaching a school bus." The review involves approximately 2,000 vehicles using the company’s fifth-generation automated system. NHTSA highlighted Waymo’s achievement of 100 million autonomous miles and an additional 2 million new miles logged weekly, suggesting this mileage level indicates a high probability of similar incidents being under review.
National data highlights the sensitivity surrounding such incidents: the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services estimates nearly 39.3 million illegal passings of stopped school buses occur during a typical school year. With dense urban traffic and numerous active school zones, D.C. parents and policymakers view Waymo’s arrival as both an innovation milestone and a test of whether autonomous vehicles can effectively protect children at curbside crossings.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a U.S. government agency established in 1970 to reduce traffic crashes and promote vehicle safety standards. It enforces regulations on fuel efficiency, vehicle recalls, and driver behavior while leading national campaigns on issues like drunk driving and seat belt use.
