Archive · 5 Dec 2025
US Probes Waymo Over School Bus Incidents
The US government is investigating Waymo, a company that makes self-driving cars, because their cars have been passing school buses illegally.
This has happened 19 times in Texas.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started looking into this after an incident in Georgia.
The school district in Austin, Texas, asked Waymo to stop their cars from driving near schools during pick-up and drop-off times until the problem is fixed.
Waymo said they have made software updates to fix the issue, but the school district says more incidents have happened, showing the problem isn't solved.
Waymo hasn't said why they won't stop their cars from driving near schools or if they will recall the software.
The NHTSA is investigating Waymo's self-driving cars for illegally passing school buses 19 times in Texas.
The probe started after an incident in Georgia where a Waymo car did not stop for a school bus with its red lights on.
The Austin Independent School District asked Waymo to halt operations around schools during pick-up and drop-off times.
Waymo implemented software updates but the school district reports more incidents have occurred.
Waymo has not responded to requests to halt operations around schools or to issue a recall for the software fix.
- Who
- Waymo (Alphabet unit) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- What
- Probe into Waymo's self-driving cars illegally passing school buses
- When
- Since the start of the school year, with the latest incident on December 1
- Where
- Texas, with an initial incident in Georgia
- Why
- To investigate and address safety concerns regarding Waymo's self-driving vehicles and their interaction with school buses
- Agency Involved
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Company Involved
- Waymo (Alphabet unit)
- Incidents Reported
- 19
- Location of Incidents
- Texas
- Initial Incident Location
- Georgia
- Date of Initial Incident
- October
- Date of NHTSA Letter
- November 20
- Date of Latest Incident
- December 1