Waymo to issue software recall over how robotaxis behave around school buses

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, plans to voluntarily issue a software recall with federal safety regulators concerning how its robotaxis behave around school buses. This decision follows scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and criticism from officials in Atlanta and Austin after incidents where Waymo vehicles improperly maneuvered around stopped school buses with extended stop signs and flashing lights. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened an inquiry in October after footage showed a Waymo robotaxi crossing in front of a stopped school bus in Atlanta. Similar incidents were reported in Austin, where Waymo operates with Uber, prompting further regulatory attention. Waymo updated its software on November 17, claiming the update improved performance beyond that of human drivers in these scenarios. However, Austin school officials reported multiple illegal passes by Waymo vehicles even after the update, leading NHTSA to request more information from the company. Despite no injuries linked to these behaviors, Waymo’s Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña emphasized the