US Government Questions Waymo School Bus Fix After New Incidents

Investigation into Software Recall

Waymo released a software fix in mid-November followed by a voluntary recall one month later. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that most violations happened after these dates. An official inquiry will determine if the update prevented robotaxis from passing stopped buses with red lights on. A separate report from the National Transportation Safety Board found another incident in mid-January.

Data Collection Efforts Continue

According to Waymo spokesperson Dana Gallagher, the firm reports major enhancements in how its vehicles operate near school buses. She noted the firm has not been cited for passing since last March despite ongoing issues. Earlier this year, the Austin school district helped set up a half-day data collection event in an empty parking lot. This coordination allowed Waymo to train vehicles on stop-arm signals after the software fix was already issued.

Potential Civil Penalties Await

Past recall queries have led to civil penalties costing automakers tens of millions of dollars. The Austin district event occurred after Waymo issued its software fix and voluntary recall yet incidents continued. Alongside the federal agency, the NTSB is also looking into the problem of school buses passing. Officials are examining whether the company's supposed software fix succeeded in preventing improper maneuvers.