Waymo Issues Recall After Robotaxi School Bus Violations in Austin
Alphabet-owned Waymo is issuing a voluntary recall following mounting public scrutiny and repeated traffic violations involving school buses in Austin, Texas. The move comes after the Austin Independent School District (ISD) released videos showing Waymo’s autonomous vehicles failing to stop for school buses with extended stop signs and crossing bars—a critical safety lapse.
Background and Timeline:
- Waymo, founded in 2009, operates its ride-hailing robotaxi service, Waymo One, 24/7 in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- The company spun out from Alphabet as a separate subsidiary in 2016.
- As of November 20, Waymo robotaxis were averaging 1.5 school bus-related traffic violations per week in Austin during the school year.
Austin ISD had been in contact with Waymo for weeks, urging the company to halt operations during school commute hours until a fix was implemented. Despite assurances that a software update had addressed the issue, violations continued, leading the district to publicly release video evidence after Waymo received its 20th citation for the school year.
Waymo’s Response: On December 5, Waymo announced plans to file for a voluntary recall “early next week” to address the issue. The company claims that a software update deployed by November 17 has “meaningfully improved performance to a level better than human drivers in this important area.” Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s chief security officer, stated, “Holding the highest safety standards means recognizing when our behavior should be better.”
Federal Scrutiny: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Waymo after reports of similar school bus violations in Georgia and now Austin. The agency expressed concerns that autonomous vehicles failing to comply with school bus traffic laws could “increase the risk of crash, injury, and property damage.”
Public Pushback and Regulation:
- Waymo contends its vehicles have been involved in 88% fewer serious injury crashes involving pedestrians compared to human drivers.
- Despite safety claims, public skepticism remains high: 80% of California voters support requiring a human safety operator in self-driving trucks, and only 33% have a favorable view of autonomous vehicles overall.
- California’s new AB 1777 law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, holds manufacturers responsible for certain autonomous vehicle violations, though critics say the law does not go far enough.
What Happens Next: Waymo’s software recall highlights the ongoing challenges and scrutiny facing autonomous vehicle companies, especially when public safety is at stake. As federal and state regulators tighten oversight and public skepticism persists, the autonomous driving industry faces pressure to prove its technology can safely integrate with existing traffic systems—particularly in sensitive scenarios involving children and school buses.