Regulators probe Waymo after its robotaxi drove around a stopped school bus | TechCrunch

"The Waymo robotaxi in question crossed perpendicularly in front of the school bus from its right side. The autonomous vehicle then turned left around the front of the bus before traveling down the street. According to Waymo, the bus was partially blocking the driveway that the robotaxi was leaving. The company claims the robotaxi could not see the flashing lights or stop sign."

""Safety is our top priority, as we provide hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.," the company said in a statement, while citing data that shows its vehicles get in fewer crashes than human-driven ones. "NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the agency as part of our mission to be the world's most trusted driver.""

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened a probe after footage showed a Waymo robotaxi maneuvering around a stopped school bus unloading children in Atlanta. ODI will examine the self-driving software's performance around stopped school buses, the system's design to comply with related rules, and other factors. NHTSA indicated the likelihood of other similar prior incidents is high based on engagement with Waymo. The robotaxi crossed perpendicularly in front of the bus from its right side, then turned left around the front before departing. Waymo said the bus partially blocked the driveway and the vehicle could not see the flashing lights or stop sign. Waymo issued software updates and said it will cooperate with NHTSA.

Read at TechCrunch