Federal Probe: Waymo's Software Fails School Bus Safety

Federal safety regulators have initiated a new investigation into Waymo's self-driving robotaxis due to ongoing issues with illegally passing school buses. These incidents, which involve vehicles failing to stop when school buses have deployed flashing red lights, have occurred repeatedly. Notably, a majority of these reported events took place after Waymo implemented a software update in November 2025, intended to correct the behavior.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation is now conducting a 'recall query' to evaluate the adequacy of Waymo's remedy. The initial investigation began in October 2025 following footage of a Waymo vehicle maneuvered around a stopped school bus with its stop sign extended and lights flashing while children were present. Since then, multiple similar incidents have been documented in cities like Austin, Texas.