Alphabet’s Waymo is facing federal investigations from the NTSB and NHTSA. The probes center on autonomous vehicles failing to stop for school buses in Austin, Texas.
The Austin Independent School District reported over two dozen safety incidents. These violations occurred since the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Waymo robotaxis illegally passed buses equipped with flashing lights and extended stop signs.
The company issued a voluntary software recall in December 2025 to address the flaw. School officials reported that safety violations continued following the software update.
A January 2026 NTSB investigation found a remote operator incorrectly cleared a vehicle to pass a bus. Waymo declined a formal request from the school district to pause operations during transport hours.