AUSTIN (KXAN) — Waymo conducted hours-long testing exercises alongside Austin Independent School District’s school buses on Wednesday after videos revealed the self-driving cars illegally passed the district’s school buses 20 times this year — resulting in the company voluntarily recalling software in thousands of its vehicles.
A NewsNation local affiliate KXAN investigation found for nearly a month, AISD has been asking the self-driving car company to cease operations during the hours when students are loading and unloading on school buses. Records show Waymo voluntarily recalled software in more than 3,000 of its vehicles but has not ceased operating in the area.
Austin ISD Transportation Director Kris Hafezi told KXAN that Waymo brought cameras and tested the vehicles alongside the buses’ stop arms and lights.
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“I am hopeful that it helps them operate their software. They have been very receptive to our concerns, but at this time, they have not ceased operations as [AISD Police] Chief [Wayne] Sneed asked them to,” Hafezi said…