Waymo Recall: Robotaxis Flout School Bus Safety Rules

Waymo is initiating a voluntary software recall in 2025 to address issues where its autonomous vehicles failed to stop for school buses displaying active warning signals. This action follows an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which documented instances of Waymo robotaxis driving past stopped school buses in Atlanta and Austin, Texas.

According to Waymo's chief safety officer, the company acknowledges that while its vehicles experience fewer pedestrian-related crashes than human drivers, there are times when their performance requires improvement. This recall is specifically aimed at enhancing the vehicles' capability to appropriately slow down and stop in such critical school bus scenarios, reflecting a dedication to ongoing refinement of their autonomous systems.

This latest software update is not the first for Waymo this year. Previously, the company issued a recall for issues involving its fleet colliding with objects like gates and chains. The autonomous driving company also conducted two other software recalls in the preceding year, addressing incidents such as collisions with a telephone pole and two separate robotaxis hitting the same towed pickup truck.