Waymo Self-Driving Taxi Hits Child Near School, Investigation Launched

Autonomous Vehicle Crashes During School Hours

Alphabet's autonomous vehicle company Waymo reported that a vehicle from its robotaxi fleet struck a child on January 23rd in Santa Monica, California. The incident occurred near a school during regular drop-off hours. Authorities stated that other children and a school crossing guard were also present at the scene.

Child Slightly Injured, Vehicle Reduced Speed

In a statement, Waymo indicated that the child suddenly darted into the road from behind a double-parked SUV. The company claimed that the 'Waymo Driver' immediately detected the child and, at the moment of impact, had already reduced the vehicle's speed through hard braking from approximately 27 km/h (17 mph) to under 10 km/h (6 mph). It was reported that the child immediately got up, moved to the sidewalk, and escaped with minor injuries.

NHTSA Launches Investigation

Waymo reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has initiated its inquiry. The investigation will examine whether the vehicle exercised the necessary caution given its proximity to a school and the time of day when children were present. The agency will investigate the behavior patterns of the vehicle's automated driving systems around school zones, particularly during service hours, and Waymo's response to the incident.

Waymo's School Bus Violations Also Under Review

In an interesting coincidence, on the same day the crash occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began investigating allegations that Waymo vehicles improperly passed school buses in Austin, Texas. Last month, Waymo had issued a voluntary software update (recall) following an NHTSA investigation into vehicles allegedly passing stopped school buses in Atlanta and Austin.

These developments in the autonomous vehicle sector are bringing the safety and regulatory dimensions of the technology back into focus. Other major players in the sector are experiencing similar shifts in focus. For example, Tesla recently announced it is shifting its focus from traditional vehicle manufacturing to robotics and autonomous systems. The company even announced that it is halting production of the Model S and X to focus on the humanoid Optimus robot. A similar strategic shift has also been reported as a move towards an autonomous future. Tesla's decision in this direction has been interpreted as shifting its focus to robots and AI during a period of declining revenue. On the other hand, it is also known that Waymo plans to launch a robotaxi service in London in September.

Waymo stated that it called emergency services regarding the incident and that the vehicle remained stationary at the roadside until authorities permitted it to move. The results of the investigation will shape the safety protocols for autonomous vehicle technology within society, especially in areas with vulnerable pedestrians.