Waymo's Robotaxis Struggle With School Buses

Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, faces ongoing challenges with its robotaxis passing stopped school buses. Despite a voluntary recall in December 2025 and subsequent investigations by federal agencies, the issue persists in cities like Austin and Atlanta. Experts highlight the difficulty in understanding autonomous systems' decision-making processes, raising concerns about their ability to handle unexpected scenarios.

While autonomous vehicles (AVs) may be involved in fewer crashes per mile than human drivers, experts caution that it is too early to declare them universally safer. The technology's performance is highly context-dependent, varying significantly by location and specific driving conditions, such as navigating motorcades or unexpected road blockages. Independent verification of company-released safety data is crucial for building confidence in AV safety claims.

Calls for standardized data collection on AV deployments are increasing, with proposals for including city-specific driving data and response times to obstructions. The debate over AV safety standards continues, with some arguing for higher performance expectations given the technology's advertised potential to reduce human errors. Ultimately, AVs are viewed as a long-term prospect, with immediate safety improvements possible through existing measures like speed limit enforcement and safety cameras.