NTSB will examine why Waymo’s robotaxis are illegally passing college buses

Waymo has caught the eye of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board because the federal company launched an official investigation into the corporate for its robotaxis improperly passing college buses in Austin, Texas. The NTSB said on X that it could “study the interplay between Waymo autos and college buses stopped for loading and unloading college students.”

The most recent federal probe stems from a preliminary analysis by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration that appeared into how Waymo reacts to stopped college buses within the Texas metropolis. That report led to Waymo’s voluntary software recall in December. Nevertheless, the varsity district mentioned in a memo that the robotaxis have been seen repeating the identical offense days after the software program replace.

As for the NTSB investigation, an company spokesperson instructed the Austin American-Statesman that its “investigators will journey to Austin to assemble info on a sequence of incidents through which the automated autos didn’t cease for loading or unloading college students.” In line with an NTSB spokesperson, a preliminary report can be out inside 30 days, however the closing report will take wherever between 12 and 24 months.

In response, Mauricio Peña, chief security officer for Waymo, mentioned in an announcement to multiple news outlets that “there have been no collisions within the occasions in query, and we’re assured that our security efficiency round college buses is superior to human drivers,” including that the investigation can be “a chance to offer the NTSB with clear insights into our safety-first strategy.”