The district has reported 24 school bus traffic violations by Waymo vehicles this school year. Four of these incidents occurred after Waymo issued a voluntary software recall in early December amid a federal investigation into the company by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What you need to know
During the week of Dec. 8, Waymo issued a voluntary software recall for its autonomous vehicles after AISD recorded 20 incidents of Waymo cars illegally passing district buses, averaging 1.5 violations a week, according to a letter from AISD to Waymo.
Texas state law mandates that drivers stop on both sides of the road for a school bus with a stop sign or flashing red lights, unless the bus is stopped on the opposite side of a divided highway, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
At that time, AISD asked Waymo to immediately cease operating its self-driving vehicles between the hours of 5:20 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.—a request that Waymo did not comply with, an AISD spokesperson said.
As of Jan. 14, the district had recorded 24 school bus traffic violations by Waymo vehicles this school year, an AISD spokesperson said.
Since Waymo announced its December software recall, the district recorded violations from Waymo vehicles Dec. 11, 12 and 19 as well as Jan. 12, according to AISD information. Footage of these incidents was captured through the district’s school bus stop arms and provided to Community Impact.
“Austin ISD again asks that Waymo cease operations in the mornings and afternoons during school days when our students are using our school buses,” an AISD spokesperson said in a statement to Community Impact on Jan. 14. “Austin ISD continues to explore any and all legal recourse available.”
The other side
"Our vehicles have 12 times fewer crashes involving injuries to pedestrians compared to human benchmarks, and we're invested in demonstrating exceptional driving performance around school bus interactions that exceeds human-driven vehicles,” a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement to Community Impact on Jan. 16. “We have met with Austin ISD, including on a collaborative data collection of various light patterns and conditions and are reviewing these learnings. We have seen material improvement in our performance since our software update."
The background
The NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into Waymo’s 5th Generation Automated Driving System on Oct. 17. The investigation was prompted by a media report of a Waymo vehicle initially slowing and then proceeding to drive past a stopped school bus in Atlanta.
On Dec. 3, the NHTSA sent a letter to Waymo asking the company to report by Jan. 20 its approach to safety around stopped school buses; information for all Waymo vehicles operating in the United States; and all complaints, crashes and lawsuits received over the last three years.
“[The Office of Defects Investigation] is concerned that ADS-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,” the letter states. “This incident occurred in the proximity of other road users, including pedestrians.”
Also of note
In late November, Waymo announced plans to launch its autonomous vehicles in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio over the coming weeks.
The company operates more than 2,500 vehicles across Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix, and plans to fully launch its ride services in several new cities across the United States.
