Uber and Waymo launch autonomous rides in Austin, Texas.
Waymo is voluntarily recalling its self-driving cars after officials in Texas reported at least 19 incidents of the vehicles passing stopped school buses.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) asked Waymo on Wednesday to explain the Texas incidents by January 20.
The agency opened an investigation in October into how Waymo vehicles behave around school buses, Reuters reported.
US INVESTIGATES WAYMO AFTER IMAGES OF SELF-DRIVING CARS MOVING ILLEGALLY IN FRONT OF SCHOOL BUSES IN TEXAS
A Waymo self-driving minivan equipped with LiDAR and cameras in Los Angeles in March 2025. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Peña said the recall will address issues of “properly slowing and stopping,” noting that the company believes the problem stems from a software glitch.
“We will continue to analyze the performance of our vehicles and make necessary repairs as part of our commitment to continuous improvement,” Peña added.
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AISD footage shows at least 19 incidents since the start of the school year in which Waymo vehicles drove past stopped school buses with flashing red lights and stop arms, while pedestrians were visibly walking in nearby streets and crosswalks.
WAYMO REVOLVES 1,200 DRIVERLESS VEHICLES FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE
A self-driving Jaguar I-PACE SUV from Waymo waits at an intersection in San Francisco on March 18, 2025. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The videos show that in some cases, Waymo vehicles initially slowed down or stopped in front of school buses before continuing on.
AISD reported five incidents in November after Waymo deployed software updates, Reuters reported, citing a Nov. 20 letter posted by NHTSA.
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