Introduction

Federal safety regulators have opened a new investigation into Waymo’s autonomous vehicles after reports that the company’s robotaxis continued passing stopped school buses, even following a software patch intended to prevent that behavior. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s action follows a November 6 filing and casts doubt on whether the earlier remedy was truly effective.

What Happened

Waymo first addressed the issue nearly a year ago, saying it had completed a software update across all affected vehicles by November 17, 2025. The move came after multiple reports of its driverless cars illegally passing school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms.

Despite that fix, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation says most of the newly reported incidents occurred after the update was already deployed. The agency has now opened a “recall query” to determine whether the remedy adequately resolved the problem.

The scrutiny is not new. NHTSA began examining Waymo in October 2025 after video emerged of one of its autonomous vehicles moving around a stopped school bus in Atlanta while children were being unloaded. In that case, the robotaxi crossed in front of the bus from the right and then turned left around its front before driving away.

Similar events have since been recorded in Austin, where Waymo also operates a commercial robotaxi service. Austin Independent School District officials told regulators they documented at least five such incidents, according to a letter filed with the agency.

Why This Matters

Passing a stopped school bus is more than a routine traffic violation; it puts children at risk during pickup and drop-off. For a company marketing autonomous technology as safer than human driving, repeated failures in one of the most strictly enforced traffic scenarios can erode public confidence.

The recall query also shows that NHTSA is prepared to revisit software-based fixes instead of accepting them at face value. If regulators conclude the remedy was insufficient, Waymo could face additional oversight, required changes, or broader enforcement.

Key Takeaways

  • NHTSA opened a new recall query into Waymo after reports that robotaxis kept passing stopped school buses following a software update.
  • Waymo said it completed a software fix for all affected vehicles on November 17, 2025.
  • Federal officials say most recent incidents occurred after that update was deployed.
  • The initial investigation began in October 2025 after an Atlanta incident involving a stopped bus unloading children.
  • Austin school officials reported at least five similar events to NHTSA.
  • Waymo says it has made improvements and received no citations since March 2026.

Conclusion

Waymo has stressed its commitment to safety and pointed to a citation-free period since March 2026. Still, the new federal inquiry indicates regulators are not yet convinced the issue is resolved. As self-driving vehicles expand into more cities, how companies and authorities handle recurring safety failures will help shape the future of autonomous transportation.