NHTSA investigates if Waymo robotaxis are still running school bus stop signs
Federal regulators are examining whether Waymo's previous software update successfully addressed issues with robotaxis failing to stop for school buses.
Quick Look
The NHTSA has launched an investigation into the effectiveness of Waymo's 2025 software recall, citing reports of robotaxis continuing to pass stopped school buses even after the update was applied in Atlanta and Austin.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Waymo previously issued a voluntary software recall in 2025 to address robotaxis failing to stop for school buses with deployed stop arms. The initial issue was documented in Atlanta and Austin.
Several months after Waymo issued a voluntary software recall on its robotaxis for running red lights and stop signs from stopped school buses, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the recall's effectiveness. The recall query began on Friday to determine whether Waymo's update worked, since "a majority of incidents occurred after the ... remedy date."
The latest investigation from the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation referenced Waymo's software recall in late 2025, which itself followed an investigation from the agency into the root issue. NHTSA's first probe revealed that Waymo's robotaxis were documented driving past stopped school buses with flashing red lights and stop sign arms deployed in Atlanta, Georgia and Austin, Texas. While the software recall was installed across the entire robotaxi fleet and completed in November 2025, the NHTSA's newest investigation will determine if the update actually fixed the problem and to "identify the causes of the conditions leading to the post-remedy reports." We reached out to Waymo for comment and will update the story when we hear back.
Open Questions
- What specific technical failure caused the post-remedy incidents?
- Will the NHTSA mandate a new recall or additional software changes?
