Federal authorities are probing a recent event in which a Waymo self-driving vehicle passed by a completely halted school bus, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency observed that the Waymo had initially halted for the bus, which had its stop arm, crossing control arms, and flashing red lights engaged. After stopping, the Waymo proceeded to drive around the front of the bus and executed a left turn, maneuvering close to students who were disembarking. The stationary bus had partially obstructed the driveway from which the Waymo was leaving, rendering the lights and stop sign unnoticeable to the vehicle. The Waymo then navigated around the bus at a slow speed, distancing itself from the students. Waymo has rolled out software enhancements to improve its operation, with additional updates on the horizon. This event took place in late September in Atlanta, Georgia. NHTSA indicated a significant probability of analogous incidents following talks with Waymo. The investigation will target the performance of Waymo’s automated driving system in the vicinity of stationary school buses to assess if safety concerns are widespread. A Waymo representative stressed that safety remains the utmost priority and confirmed the company’s ongoing partnership with NHTSA. Waymo’s safety metrics indicate a fivefold decrease in injury-related crashes in comparison to human operators. In May 2024, NHTSA initiated an inquiry into Waymo related to 22 incidents involving collisions with objects and violations of traffic safety signals. In November 2024, Waymo recalled 1,212 self-driving taxis for a software update aimed at mitigating collisions with stationary items. Waymo, which provides services in multiple U.S. cities, recently revealed intentions to broaden its taxi operations to London.