Federal regulators are intensifying their scrutiny of Waymo, demanding detailed information about its self-driving system after the Austin School District reported 19 instances of its robotaxis illegally passing school buses. This comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expands its ongoing investigation into the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company.
In a December 3 letter, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) specifically requested data on Waymo's fifth-generation self-driving system and operational protocols. Reuters was the first to report on this latest inquiry, which follows an initial investigation launched by the agency two months prior, prompted by concerns over how Waymo's autonomous vehicles interact with stopped school buses.
The initial probe, opened in October, stemmed from footage showing a Waymo robotaxi in Atlanta maneuvering around a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and lights flashing while children were disembarking. The autonomous vehicle reportedly crossed perpendicularly in front of the bus from its right side, then turned left around its front before proceeding down the street.
Waymo initially stated that the bus in the Atlanta incident was partially obstructing a driveway, preventing the robotaxi from detecting the flashing lights or stop sign. In response to these concerns, the company announced it had issued a software update to its fleet to enhance performance around school buses.
Despite Waymo's software update, reports of illegal passing incidents have persisted. The Austin School District has documented 19 separate instances of Waymo automated vehicles illegally passing school buses since the start of the 2025-26 school year. Crucially, at least five of these incidents occurred after Waymo implemented its software fix on November 17, according to a letter from the district to the company.
In an emailed statement, Waymo reiterated its commitment to safety as its "top priority." The company asserts that its internal data demonstrates a significant improvement in road safety due to its robotaxis, citing a fivefold reduction in injury-related crashes compared to human drivers and 12 times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians.
"We have already made software updates to improve our performance and are committed to continuous improvement," the statement continued. "NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the agency as part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver."
Waymo maintains that these software updates have significantly enhanced performance in this specific area, even surpassing human drivers. However, the Austin School District strongly disputes this claim and has asked Waymo to cease operations during peak school hours.
In a November 20 letter to Waymo, the district expressed its frustration:
"Waymo’s software updates are clearly not working as intended nor as quickly as required. We cannot allow Waymo to continue endangering our students while it attempts to implement a fix. Accordingly, Austin ISD demands that Waymo immediately cease operation of its automated vehicles during the hours of 5:20 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., until more in-depth software updates are completed and Waymo can guarantee its vehicles will comply with the law."
Four days later, federal regulators with the ODI sent a follow-up letter to Waymo, acknowledging the Austin School District's alert. The investigators specifically inquired whether Waymo had complied with the district's request to cease operations, if its software fix had effectively addressed the safety concerns, and if the company intended to initiate a recall of its vehicles.
