Waymo will issue a software recall on how robotaxis behave around school buses

Waymo plans to issue a voluntary software recall with federal safety regulators regarding how its robots operate around school buses, the Alphabet-owned company told TechCrunch.

The voluntary software recall will be filed early next week, according to the company. Waymo said that once the issue was identified, it updated its software on November 17. The company confirms that this update has significantly improved performance to a better level than human drivers in this important area.

Waymo’s decision comes after increased scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and criticism from officials in Atlanta and Austin over how robotaxis perform around school buses.

NHTSA Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) He opened his preliminary investigations Waymo got involved in October after watching footage of its self-driving car maneuvering around a parked school bus — with its stop sign extended and lights flashing — that was dropping off children in Atlanta. In that incident, a Waymo robotaxi crossed perpendicularly in front of the school bus on its right side. The self-driving car then turned left around the front of the bus before driving down the street.

Other similar incidents have emerged in Austin, where the company also operates a robo-taxi service with partner Uber. Austin School District officials confirm, In a message Available on the NHTSA website, at least five of these incidents occurred after Waymo said it updated its software.

The agency sent a letter on Dec. 3 to Waymo requesting more information about its self-driving system and operations after reports from the Austin School District that its robotaxis illegally overtook school buses 19 times this year. Organizers I requested detailed information About the fifth generation autonomous driving system and operations.

“While we are extremely proud of our strong safety record that shows Waymo has twelve times fewer pedestrian injury crashes than human drivers, adhering to the highest safety standards means recognizing when we need to do better,” Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s chief safety officer, said in an email statement. “As a result, we have made the decision to submit a voluntary software recall to NHTSA regarding improper idling and stopping in these scenarios. We will continue to analyze the performance of our vehicles and make necessary repairs as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.”

There were no injuries related to the vehicle’s behavior addressed in this recall, according to the company, which stressed that safety is its top priority and will continue to work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The company says it will continue to investigate, track and implement further updates as needed.

Software recalls are becoming more common in the era of modern passenger cars — and now robotaxis — where processes are handled by software. These updates or repairs are often made before the official recall but still carry weight when submitted to the federal government.

Waymo did something Voluntary software recall earlier this year, as well as two in 2024, including one released after a Waymo car in Phoenix, which was driving without a human safety operator, It crashed into a telephone pole In an alley during a low-speed jacket maneuver.