Video offered by the Austin Impartial College District in Texas captures Waymo autonomous automobiles driving previous stopped college buses in 2025, elevating contemporary security issues concerning the know-how.
A U.S. security company has opened an investigation into Waymo, after its autonomous automobiles have been allegedly caught driving previous stopped college buses in Austin, Texas, in response to a letter despatched by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) to the corporate on Dec. 3.
In a press release to FOX Enterprise, Austin Impartial College District (AISD) police mentioned Waymo self-driving automobiles have been cited 20 occasions as of Monday, and that the corporate has refused to halt operations till the difficulty is correctly resolved.
Footage offered by AISD reveals not less than 19 incidents for the reason that college yr started by which Waymo automobiles drove previous stopped college buses with crimson lights flashing and cease arms deployed, whereas pedestrians have been visibly strolling in close by streets and crosswalks. The movies present that in some instances, Waymo automobiles initially slowed or stopped for varsity buses earlier than continuing via.
In its letter to the corporate, the NHTSA mentioned it has opened an analysis into the “efficiency of the Waymo ADS round stopped college buses and the system’s skill to observe site visitors security legal guidelines regarding college buses.”
PASSENGER IN WAYMO SELF-DRIVING CAR GETS STUCK CIRCLING PARKING LOT WHILE TRYING TO MAKE FLIGHT
Safety footage reveals a white Waymo self-driving automotive passing a parked college bus with its cease indicators prolonged and lights flashing in Austin, Texas. (Austin Impartial College District / Fox Information)
The company added that “such surprising driving behaviors or not complying with site visitors security legal guidelines regarding college buses could enhance the danger of crash, harm, and property injury.”
AISD Chief of Police Wayne Sneed mentioned in a press release to FOX Enterprise that Waymo has refused to halt operations till the corporate can guarantee its automobiles won’t violate the regulation.
“Regardless of quite a few requests, Waymo has refused to stop operations,” Sneed mentioned.
“Moreover, we introduced them with one other video dated Dec. 1, 2025, exhibiting one among their automobiles passing one other one among our buses whereas college students have been loading. On this occasion, the bus was and had been stopped with crimson flashing lights and activated for almost a full minute earlier than their automobile handed—an unequivocal violation of State Regulation.”
UBER, WAYMO LAUNCH ‘INTEREST LIST’ FOR AUTONOMOUS RIDES IN ATLANTA
A Waymo autonomous automobile drives previous a stopped college bus in Austin, Texas. (Austin Impartial College District / Fox Information)
Sneed added that Waymo was notified of the difficulty in mid-November, and whereas the corporate mentioned it has since resolved the difficulty, alleged violations have continued.
“They reported that programming adjustments had been carried out in mid-November to appropriate earlier violations. Nevertheless, the Dec. 1, 2025 incident signifies that these programming adjustments didn’t resolve the difficulty or our issues,” Sneed mentioned.
Reuters beforehand reported that in a Nov. 20 letter posted by the NHTSA, the AISD mentioned 5 incidents occurred that month after Waymo mentioned it had made software program updates to deal with the issue.
WAYMO RECALLS 1,200 DRIVERLESS VEHICLES FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE
A Waymo autonomous SUV is seen driving via a college bus cease zone whereas the bus is parked with its cease arms out and crimson lights flashing in Austin, Texas. (Austin Impartial College District / Fox Information)
Waymo confirmed to FOX Enterprise on Thursday that when the corporate grew to become conscious of the difficulty, it moved shortly to deal with it and carried out updates by Nov. 17.
The corporate mentioned the updates have “meaningfully improved efficiency” to a degree higher than even human drivers. Waymo additionally claimed that its information present that Waymo proceeded cautiously when nobody was current.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“Enhancing street security is our high precedence at Waymo and we’re deeply invested in secure interplay with college buses. We swiftly carried out software program updates to deal with this and can proceed to quickly enhance,” a Waymo spokesperson mentioned.
The investigation comes as Waymo is reportedly planning to increase its self-driving service to Dallas in 2026, in response to FOX 4 Dallas, which added that the corporate is presently road-testing its automobiles within the metropolis.
