NHTSA opens probe after Waymo vehicle strikes child

On the Dash:

• NHTSA is investigating a Waymo self-driving vehicle that struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school.
• The child sustained minor injuries, and Waymo cooperated, reducing speed before impact and remaining at the scene.
• The incident adds scrutiny to the company’s safety record, following prior probes into robotaxi software and school bus violations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday that it is opening an investigation after a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child last week near a Santa Monica elementary school.

The child sustained minor injuries after running across the street behind a double-parked SUV during typical drop-off hours. The child stood up immediately and walked to the sidewalk following the impact, and Waymo called 911.

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The company said in a blog post on Thursday that it voluntarily notified NHTSA of the incident that day and intends to fully cooperate with the investigation. The company added that the Waymo Driver immediately detected the child when they unexpectedly entered the roadway. The autonomous vehicle reduced speed from 17 mph to 6 mph before the impact. The car then pulled to the side of the road, called emergency services and remained at the scene until law enforcement permitted it to leave.

Despite growing safety concerns, Waymo asserts that its AV technology outperforms human drivers in collision responses. The company said that a peer-reviewed computer simulation showed a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph—more than double the speed at the time of the incident.

NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation will determine whether the Waymo Driver exercised adequate caution while operating near an elementary school zone during typical drop-off hours. The review will also confirm that the vehicle adhered to speed limits and scrutinize its post-impact response.

The incident adds further scrutiny to Waymo as questions about autonomous vehicle safety continue to grow. In December, NHTSA launched a probe into 2,000 Waymo robotaxis after documented incidents in which the vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses in Atlanta and Texas. While the company issued a recall to update the software that caused the robotaxis to pass stopped buses, reports have surfaced that the vehicles continue to pass stopped buses illegally.