Waymo Issues Recall After Robotaxi School Bus Violations in Austin
Alphabet-owned Waymo is issuing a voluntary recall following mounting public scrutiny and repeated traffic violations involving school buses in Austin, Texas. The move comes after the Austin Independent School District (ISD) released videos showing Waymo’s autonomous vehicles failing to stop for school buses with extended stop signs and crossing bars—a critical safety lapse.
Background and Timeline:
- Waymo, founded in 2009, operates its ride-hailing robotaxi service, Waymo One, 24/7 in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- The company spun out from Alphabet as a separate subsidiary in 2016.
- As of November 20, Waymo robotaxis were averaging 1.5 school bus-related traffic violations per week in Austin during the school year.
Austin ISD had been in contact with Waymo for weeks, urging the company to halt operations during school commute hours until a fix was implemented. Despite assurances that a software update had addressed the issue, violations continued, leading the district to publicly release video evidence after Waymo received its 20th citation for the school year…