Google’s self-driving robotaxi Waymo is under investigation by U.S. transportation authorities for violating laws by passing a school bus without permission, even after a recall was issued. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on the 3rd that it is investigating an incident in which a Waymo vehicle passed a stopped school bus on a road in Austin, Texas on January 12th.<\/p>\n
According to NTSB investigation data, the Waymo taxi recognized the school bus with its lights flashing and a stop sign open to pick up students at around 7:55 a.m., the start of school, and briefly stopped in the opposite lane. However, when three other vehicles passed the school bus soon after, the taxi followed them. In most parts of the United States, including Texas, when a school bus comes to a stop with its red lights flashing and a stop sign displayed, no vehicles in either direction can pass or pass it.<\/p>\n
The investigation revealed that Waymo had asked its remote support center in Michigan if the signal was on and, when the center answered “no,” proceeded with the operation. However, no collisions or other accidents occurred as a result. The NTSB added that it was investigating a similar incident involving a school bus on January 14th in addition to this one. Waymo was previously cited for at least 19 incidents of illegal passing and passing of school buses in Texas last year, and issued a recall in December, updating the relevant vehicle software. However, as similar violations continued even after the recall, the NTSB plans to issue a safety advisory to prevent similar incidents.<\/p>\n
The NTSB also released findings from its investigation into a crash on January 23rd in which a Waymo vehicle struck an elementary school student in a school zone in Santa Monica, California. At the time, the Waymo vehicle was traveling at 17 mph (approximately 27 km\/h) on a road with a speed limit of 25 mph (approximately 40 km\/h). Upon noticing a nine-year-old girl crossing the roadway, the vehicle applied the brakes and ultimately crashed into her. The girl, who collided with the Waymo vehicle, sustained minor injuries but did not require medical transport.<\/p>\n
This is consistent with Waymo’s statement immediately after the accident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"