NTSB opens first investigation into Waymo school bus incidents

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—the US federal agency that investigates transportation accidents—has opened an investigation into Waymo following reports of its robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses. This marks the first time the NTSB has launched an investigation into the autonomous vehicle company.

This federal scrutiny follows a similar probe opened in October by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—the US federal agency responsible for vehicle safety. To address the school bus problem, Waymo issued a software recall last year. However, the company continues to face regulatory challenges as it scales its commercial operations. Waymo recently expanded its robotaxi service to Miami, adding to its existing operations in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Waymo’s chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, defended the company’s technology, stating that the company safely navigates thousands of school bus encounters weekly across the United States and that its driving system is continuously improving. Peña noted that there have been no collisions in the events in question and asserted that Waymo’s safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers. “We see this as an opportunity to provide the NTSB with transparent insights into our safety-first approach,” Peña said.

The safety board posted on X on Friday, announcing that it is specifically focusing on more than 20 incidents that occurred in Austin, Texas. To gather information, NTSB investigators will travel to Austin to examine a series of incidents where the automated vehicles failed to stop for loading or unloading students. The NTSB expects to publish a preliminary report within 30 days, followed by a detailed final report expected in 12 to 24 months. Waymo also stated that it continues to engage productively with the Austin Independent School District, applauding its reported success in reducing human-driven violations around school buses from 10,000+ a year. These local engagements follow previous incidents of Waymo vehicles making illegal maneuvers, including a first notable incident last September in Atlanta.

Why it matters

The NTSB investigation represents a significant escalation in federal oversight for Waymo, which is currently scaling its robotaxi operations across the United States despite ongoing safety concerns regarding school bus interactions.