A Waymo robotaxi was not too long ago noticed driving round a faculty bus that had its pink lights flashing, and federal security regulators have opened an investigation in consequence.

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) introduced Monday morning that its Workplace of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation after seeing footage from early October of a Waymo autonomous automobile maneuvering round a stopped faculty bus that was unloading children in Atlanta, Georgia.

ODI says in a doc that it’ll examine the efficiency of Waymo’s self-driving software program round stopped faculty buses, how the system is designed to adjust to guidelines associated to the buses, and extra. The NHTSA stated Monday that, based mostly on its engagement with Waymo thus far, the “chance of different prior related incidents is excessive.”

The Waymo robotaxi in query crossed perpendicularly in entrance of the varsity bus from its proper aspect. The autonomous automobile then turned left across the entrance of the bus earlier than touring down the road. In keeping with Waymo, the bus was partially blocking the driveway that the robotaxi was leaving. The corporate claims the robotaxi couldn’t see the flashing lights or cease signal. Waymo didn’t instantly reply to a query about whether or not the automobile may see the scholars getting off the bus, or the bus’s management arm.

“Security is our high precedence, as we offer tons of of 1000’s of totally autonomous paid journeys each week in among the most difficult driving environments within the U.S.,” the corporate stated in an announcement, whereas citing knowledge that reveals its autos get in fewer crashes than human-driven ones. “NHTSA performs an important position in street security, and we’ll proceed to work collaboratively with the company as a part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”

Waymo additionally stated Monday that it has already issued software program updates to its fleet to enhance efficiency.

This has been a 12 months of enlargement for Waymo. The corporate launched in Atlanta, introduced its robotaxis to Austin, expanded throughout Silicon Valley, and is testing in quite a lot of different metro areas, together with New York Metropolis. It’s additionally testing on the San Jose and San Francisco airports, and has many extra cities lined up for 2026.

A part of the method of launching in new cities is having the self-driving system encounter and be taught from new situations — though it’s secure to say Atlanta was not the primary place that Waymo’s robotaxis have seen faculty buses.

This isn’t the primary time the NHTSA has opened an investigation into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles. In 2023, the NHTSA probed reviews that Waymo’s autos had been battling roadway obstacles like gates and chains in low-speed conditions. That investigation finally led to a recall again in Might, which Waymo addressed with a software program replace. Final 12 months, the company introduced a probe centered on reviews that Waymo autos had pushed into the mistaken lane or entered building zones.