Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds say
U.S. safety regulators are investigating Waymo after its robotaxis continued to illegally pass stopped school buses even following a software update the company said resolved the issue. Federal officials say the fix did not work, and a recall investigation is now under way. Waymo has not publicly disputed the government's findings in the material reviewed. The probe centers on whether the vehicles reliably detect and stop for school buses with extended stop arms and flashing lights.
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- ✓ U.S. federal safety regulators opened an investigation into Waymo robotaxis over school bus passing violations.
- ✓ Waymo issued a software fix it said addressed the issue, but federal officials say the vehicles continued to pass stopped school buses after the update.
- ✓ The government is probing whether a recall is warranted following the continued violations.
What changed
Federal safety officials opened a formal investigation into Waymo after determining that its post-fix software still allowed robotaxis to pass stopped school buses, contradicting the company's claim that the problem had been resolved.
Live updates
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Federal probe finds Waymo robotaxis still passing stopped school buses after software fix
U.S. safety regulators are investigating Waymo after its robotaxis continued to illegally pass stopped school buses even following a software update the company said resolved the issue. Federal officials say the fix did not work, and a recall investigation is now under way. Waymo has not publicly disputed the government's findings in the material reviewed. The probe centers on whether the vehicles reliably detect and stop for school buses with extended stop arms and flashing lights.
Why it matters
Waymo operates driverless ride-hailing vehicles in multiple U.S. cities and has promoted its autonomous technology as safer than human-driven cars. School bus passing is illegal in every state and creates acute danger for children boarding or exiting. Regulators previously flagged the behavior, prompting Waymo to issue a software fix, but federal officials now say violations persisted after the update. The investigation could force a mandatory recall, restrict Waymo's operations, or trigger broader scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety oversight.
What is confirmed
- U.S. federal safety regulators opened an investigation into Waymo robotaxis over school bus passing violations.
- Waymo issued a software fix it said addressed the issue, but federal officials say the vehicles continued to pass stopped school buses after the update.
- The government is probing whether a recall is warranted following the continued violations.
Still unconfirmed
- Waymo plans to dispute the federal findings or challenge the investigation.
What to watch next
- Whether NHTSA issues a formal recall order for Waymo vehicles.
- Waymo's public response and any software changes it deploys.
- Whether regulators restrict Waymo's robotaxi operations pending the investigation's outcome.
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (9)
- techcrunch.com — TechCrunch | Startup and Technology News
- autos.yahoo.com — He Bought a Banned 500-HP Chinese EV for $3,000—and It Destroys 0-60 in 3.9 Seconds
- TechCrunch — Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds say
- Reuters — US opens probe into Waymo vehicles over school bus safety violations
- FOX 2 Detroit — Feds investigate Waymo recall after continued school bus violations
- WSJ — Federal Government Probes Waymo Over School-Bus Safety
- The Verge — Waymo’s robotaxis still won’t stop for school buses.
- The Independent — Waymo taxis won’t stop passing stopped school buses, feds say
- WIRED — Waymo Said It Fixed Its School Bus Problem. The US Government Says It Didn’t Work
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