<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3qDSvs_1GvCgmML00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qDSvs_1GvCgmML00" width="966" height="496" >AUSTIN (KXAN) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an inquiry into the effectiveness of a recall Waymo issued last year after its driverless vehicles were reported passing stopped school buses, including ones in Austin that had lights flashing and stop-arms extended, according to a NHTSA notice filed Friday.Waymo completed a software update to address the issue on Nov. 17, 2025, but “a majority of the incidents occurred after” that date, according to NHTSA.The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation will be assessing the adequacy of Waymo’s recall and identifying what led to incidents reported after its software update.Stop-arm violations continueWaymo filed a voluntary recall on Dec. 10, 2025, after a KXAN investigation found AISD had cited Waymo multiple times for stop-arm violations. Texas law requires motorists to completely stop when a school bus is stopped with its stop-arm extended and lights flashing.AISD said Waymo stop-arm violations continued after the recall, with at least four more reported by the district after Dec. 10, KXAN found.The National Traffic Safety Board opened an investigation into the matter in January. A preliminary NTSB report released in March found human error was behind at least one incident in January when a remote assistant based in Michigan incorrectly told a driverless Waymo in Austin that a stopped school bus was not signaling drivers to stop.KXAN reached out on Monday morning to Waymo, but the company did not immediately respond.Waymo previously told KXAN they “appreciate the work of the NTSB and will remain a committed and collaborative party to the investigation.”Waymo touts its safety record on it website, saying its driverless vehicles are “10x safer than an average human driver” based on “over 95% reduction in reported serious injury or worse crash rates where Waymo operates.”AISD declined to comment, saying it is a “part of the NTSB investigation” and KXAN should contact that agency with questions.Driverless vehicles proliferateAustin streets are increasingly being used by AVs. Tesla has deployed its Robotaxis in town, and Amazon’s Zoox driverless vehicles are also rolling, according to the City of Austin. Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet.Two other companies – ADMT owned by Volkswagen and Avride – are testing in the city. Motional, under parent company Hyundai, is in its mapping phase, according to the city.</div></body>

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AUSTIN (KXAN) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an inquiry into the effectiveness of a recall Waymo issued last year after its driverless vehicles were reported passing stopped school buses, including ones in Austin that had lights flashing and stop-arms extended, according to a NHTSA notice filed Friday.

NHTSA probing Waymo software recall after bus violations

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