NHTSA Grills Waymo Over Robotaxis & School Bus Stops

What’s Happening The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is putting Waymo on the hot seat. They’ve asked the self-driving car company for more answers regarding its vehicles illegally passing school buses. This comes as part of a probe opened in October, with Texas officials reporting at least 19 such incidents this year. Waymo, an Alphabet-owned firm, received the agency’s latest query on Thursday. ## Why This Matters This isn’t just a minor traffic infraction; it’s a serious safety concern. School buses stopping with flashing lights are a universal signal to protect children. When a self-driving car fails to recognize and obey this critical safety protocol, it raises major questions. Public trust in autonomous vehicles, already fragile, could take a significant hit. - Child safety is the absolute top priority around school buses.

• These incidents erode public confidence in the reliability of self-driving technology.
• Increased regulatory scrutiny could lead to operational restrictions or slower expansion for Waymo and other AV companies. ## The Bottom Line Waymo faces a crucial test to demonstrate its systems can reliably protect the most vulnerable road users. The stakes are high for both the company and the future of autonomous driving. Can Waymo convince regulators their robotaxis are truly safe for our streets, especially when kids are involved?