(Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Waymo will be issuing a software recall for robotaxis that have been ignoring school bus signals.
This voluntary software recall will be submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week and is expected to be resolved with an over-the-air update.
It comes after the agency informed Waymo on Dec. 3 that its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) had opened a preliminary evaluation into its "system’s ability to follow traffic safety laws concerning school buses." That followed October media reports of a Waymo AV going past a stopped school bus in Atlanta, and similar reports in Austin, Texas.
"ODI is concerned that [automated driving system]-equipped vehicles exhibiting such unexpected driving behaviors or not complying with traffic safety laws concerning school buses may increase the risk of crash, injury, and property damage," writes Scott Simmons, chief of ODI's Vehicle Defects Division. "This incident occurred in the proximity of other road users, including pedestrians."
On Nov. 20, the Austin Independent School District wrote to Waymo saying it had proof of at least 19 violations caused by the company's robotaxis around school buses. "Alarmingly, five of these violations occurred after Waymo’s November 5, 2025, letter reassuring Austin ISD that certain software updates were in place to resolve the issue," writes Jennifer Bergeron Oliaro, senior counsel for the district.
The school district requested that Waymo cease operations during common school pick-up and drop-off times until the issue was resolved. On Nov. 24, the NHTSA followed up on the request, asking Waymo to confirm if its plans were to cease operations or file a recall to fix the issue. Waymo reportedly declined to halt operations near schools, Reuters reports.
In a statement, Waymo told Reuters it is "deeply invested in safe interaction with school buses. We swiftly implemented software updates to address this and will continue to rapidly improve."
The defect was found in Waymo's fifth-generation automated driving system (ADS). The company previously recalled approximately 1,200 vehicles when the same software caused its cars to run into roadside barriers, such as chains and gates.