Waymo Responds Regarding Child Hit By Robotaxi — Important Notes - CleanTechnica

A Waymo robotaxi in Santa Monica, California, recently struck a 10-year-old girl who ran into the road from behind a large SUV. According to Waymo, their autonomous system detected the pedestrian as she emerged and braked hard, reducing the vehicle’s speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact. The company notes that a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would likely have hit the child at about 14 mph, indicating the robotaxi significantly lessened the impact severity. Fortunately, the girl was able to walk away nearly unscathed and emergency services were promptly contacted. Waymo emphasized its commitment to transparency and road safety, stating that it immediately reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which plans to investigate. The company highlighted its established protocols for handling such events, including cooperation with authorities and ensuring the vehicle remained stopped until cleared. Waymo framed the incident as evidence of the safety benefits of its technology, underscoring its