Waymo's Software Patch to Not Run Down Children Getting Off School Buses Isn't Working, School Claims

"Earlier this week, Waymo filed a software recall for 3,067 of its 5th-generation vehicles, after the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the vehicles' behavior around school busses. In its summary of the recall, the NHTSA said that the "software may cause the vehicle to pass a stopped school bus even when the red lights are flashing and/or stop arm is extended.""

"The recall comes after 20 incidents with school buses were recorded in Austin, as well as at least six in Atlantathroughout 2025. While no one has been hurt yet, NHTSA records note at least one case where a Waymo zoomed past "disembarking students." That's an immensely serious threat to safety: driving past a school bus with active warning lights and stop arms extended is a major traffic violation in all 50 states, carrying steep penalties for human drivers."

"Though Waymo claims it had patched all affected vehicles by November 17, CBS reports that the Austin Independent School District (AISD) logged at least one violation after that date. In response to the early December violation, AISD officials reached out to Waymo, asking it to limit operations around school drop-off and pick-up times. But Waymo told the school district it's going to keep on trucking."

Waymo filed a software recall for 3,067 fifth-generation vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into vehicle behavior around school buses. The NHTSA warned that software may allow a vehicle to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm. At least 20 incidents occurred in Austin and six in Atlanta in 2025, including a case where a Waymo passed disembarking students. Waymo reported patching affected vehicles by November 17, but the Austin Independent School District logged a later violation and asked Waymo to limit operations during drop-off and pick-up; Waymo declined. Waymo has begun reprogramming vehicles to drive more aggressively to reduce passive or defensive behavior.

Read at Futurism