NTSB Opens Probe After Waymo Robotaxis Illegally Pass School Buses in Austin

NTSB launches formal inquiry after repeated incidents in Austin

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an official investigation into a series of incidents in Austin, Texas, in which Waymo robotaxis were observed passing school buses that were stopped to load or unload students. The agency said it will "examine the interaction between Waymo vehicles and school buses stopped for loading and unloading students," and will send investigators to Austin to gather information.

From NHTSA review to Waymo's voluntary recall

The NTSB action follows a preliminary evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into how Waymo's autonomous vehicles respond to stopped school buses. That NHTSA review prompted Waymo to issue a voluntary software recall in December aimed at fixing the behavior. But the Austin school district reported that robotaxis were observed repeating the same offense days after the update, raising fresh concerns about whether the fix fully addressed the problem.

What investigators will do and the timeline

An NTSB spokesperson told the Austin American-Statesman that investigators will travel to Austin to collect data and testimony related to the incidents. The agency said a preliminary report will be released within 30 days of the investigation's start. A full, final report is expected to take between 12 and 24 months, consistent with the NTSB's thorough investigative process for safety-critical matters.

Waymo responds: no collisions, confidence in safety

Mauricio Pef1a, Waymo's chief safety officer, issued a statement to multiple outlets noting that "there have been no collisions in the events in question, and we are confident that our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers." He added that the NTSB review will be "an opportunity to provide the NTSB with transparent insights into our safety-first approach."

Why this matters

State laws generally require vehicles to stop when a school bus displays its stop arm or flashing lights while loading or unloading students. Vehicles that fail to comply put children at risk and can incur significant penalties. For autonomous vehicle operators like Waymo, repeated failures to respect school bus signals can erode public trust, invite stricter oversight from regulators, and complicate deployment plans in other jurisdictions.

Industry and public-safety implications

The investigation underscores several broader issues facing the self-driving industry: how well perception and decision-making systems handle uncommon but high-risk roadside scenarios; the sufficiency of software updates to correct behavior in the field; and the effectiveness of operator transparency and incident reporting. Even without collisions, the NTSB's findings could lead to mandated changes or recommendations for design, testing and operational controls that affect manufacturers and fleet operators.

What to watch next

Key items to follow in the coming weeks and months:

• The NTSB's preliminary report, expected in about 30 days, which will outline initial findings and whether immediate safety recommendations are warranted.
• Details from Waymo about what triggered the initial behavior, what the December software recall changed, and any additional mitigations being rolled out.
• Responses from local authorities and school districts about enforcement, reporting, and whether additional restrictions on robotaxi operations in school zones are needed.
• Broader regulatory reactions that could impact testing and commercial operation rules for autonomous vehicles nationwide.

The NTSB's probe is a reminder that as autonomous systems move from test tracks to real roads they must handle not only the most common driving situations but also the critical, safety-sensitive edge cases. For Waymo, the investigation will be a high-stakes test of both its technology and its public-safety communications.

Note: The company and federal agencies say there were no collisions related to these incidents. The investigation's outcomes will shape how companies, regulators and communities manage the risks and benefits of autonomous passenger services going forward.