### Waymo Faces Federal Scrutiny Over Safety Violations Involving School Buses Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, is under federal investigation following reports that its robotaxis have illegally passed stopped school buses in Texas. This scrutiny was triggered by a video that surfaced in September, showing a Waymo vehicle violating traffic laws by not stopping for a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm deployed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has since opened a probe into these incidents, which reportedly number at least 19 since Waymo began public operations in Texas in March 2025. In response to these violations, Waymo has announced plans for a voluntary software recall to address the flaws in its AI system that led to these dangerous situations, emphasizing the challenges of ensuring child safety while scaling autonomous vehicle technology [https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/waymo-to-file-voluntary-software-recall/85-a2887b1a-9ed7-4a72-b5bf-746954c6c63a][https://www.webpronews.com/waymo-robotaxis-face-nhtsa-probe-for-passing-stopped-school-buses]. ### Breakdown of the Situation: Key Segments 1. **Incident Overview**: Reports indicate that Waymo's robotaxis have passed stopped school buses at least 19 times, prompting federal investigation. 2. **Regulatory Response**: The NHTSA has initiated a probe into these incidents, focusing on the safety implications of autonomous vehicles around school zones. 3. **Company's Reaction**: Waymo plans to issue a voluntary software recall to rectify the AI issues that led to these violations. 4. **Public Safety Concerns**: The incidents raise significant concerns about the safety of children and the operational reliability of autonomous vehicles in urban environments [https://mashable.com/article/waymo-robotaxi-nhtsa-investigation-road-safety-school-buses][https://www.republicworld.com/automobile/us-probes-reports-waymo-self-driving-cars-illegally-passed-school-buses-19-times-in-texas]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Number of Incidents**: 19 reported violations of traffic laws involving stopped school buses since March 2025. - **Regulatory Actions**: NHTSA opened an investigation in October 2025, following a specific incident in Georgia that highlighted the issue. - **Company Response**: Waymo has acknowledged the problem and is taking steps to improve its software to prevent future violations [https://www.greenground.it/2025/12/05/waymo-faces-federal-probe-for-dodgy-driving-around-school-buses][https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/us-investigating-waymo-footage-captures-self-driving-cars-illegally-moving-past-texas-school-buses]. ### Conclusion: Summary of Findings In summary, **Waymo is currently facing serious regulatory scrutiny due to multiple incidents of its robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses**, which poses a significant risk to child safety. The NHTSA's investigation, initiated after numerous reports, underscores the challenges of integrating autonomous vehicles into everyday traffic scenarios. 1. **Incidents**: 19 violations reported in Texas. 2. **Regulatory Action**: NHTSA probe initiated in October 2025. 3. **Company's Response**: Voluntary software recall planned to address AI flaws. 4. **Public Safety**: Ongoing concerns regarding the safety of children around autonomous vehicles [https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/04/feds-ask-waymo-about-robotaxis-repeatedly-passing-school-buses-in-austin][https://www.freedom969.com/business/us-probes-reports-waymo-self-driving-cars-illegally-passed-school-buses-19-times-in-texas].