The US’s essential transportation security regulator stated on Monday it had opened a preliminary investigation into about 2,000 Waymo self-driving autos after studies that the corporate’s robotaxis could have didn’t comply with site visitors security legal guidelines round stopped faculty buses.
The investigation by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) is the most recent federal overview of self-driving programs as regulators scrutinize how driverless applied sciences work together with pedestrians, cyclists and different street customers.
NHTSA stated the Workplace of Defects Investigation opened the overview after flagging a media report describing an incident during which a Waymo autonomous automobile didn’t stay stationary when approaching a faculty bus with its purple lights flashing, cease arm deployed and crossing management arm prolonged.
The report stated the Waymo automobile initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered round its entrance, passing the prolonged cease arm and crossing management arm whereas college students have been disembarking.
after publication promotion
Waymo has stated its robotaxi fleet has greater than 1,500 autos working throughout main US cities, together with Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin and New York Metropolis subsequent yr. The Alphabet-owned firm additionally plans to broaden internationally, with launches in cities together with London in 2026 Tokyo within the coming years.
A Waymo spokesperson stated the corporate had “already developed and carried out enhancements associated to stopping for college buses and can land extra software program updates in our subsequent software program launch”.
The corporate added: “Driving safely round kids has at all times been one in every of Waymo’s highest priorities. Within the occasion referenced, the automobile approached the varsity bus from an angle the place the flashing lights and cease signal weren’t seen and drove slowly across the entrance of the bus earlier than driving previous it, retaining a secure distance from kids.”
NHTSA stated the automobile concerned was outfitted with Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving system and was working with no human security driver on the time of the incident.
