A recent incident involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle striking a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica has drawn the attention of regulators and reignited debate over the safety of self-driving technology. The collision occurred during the busy school drop-off period, with multiple children, vehicles, and a crossing guard present. While the child sustained only minor injuries and was able to move to safety immediately after the event, authorities are scrutinizing Waymo’s response and the vehicle’s behavior at the time of the incident. This scrutiny comes as schools and local communities raise concerns about the presence of robotaxis during student pick-up and drop-off times, emphasizing the need for careful assessment of autonomous systems in complex urban environments.
Waymo has faced safety-related incidents before, particularly with school bus interactions. Reports from recent years document occasions where its vehicles, including in Austin, passed stopped school buses unlawfully, prompting requests from school districts to restrict operations during peak school transit hours. Such issues have led to earlier investigations by federal authorities and even a voluntary software recall in response to these repeated traffic safety violations. Compared to this pattern, the latest pedestrian collision marks another chapter in the ongoing conversation about advanced driving technology and its place in public areas.
How is the NHTSA Responding to the Santa Monica Incident?
Following the collision, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a preliminary investigation targeting the automated driving system’s (ADS) overall conduct and its specific performance in school zones. Key issues under review include the system’s ability to detect sudden obstacles and its compliance with regulated speed limits, especially when children are present nearby. The agency will also assess how Waymo’s vehicle responded after the collision and what steps it took to ensure the child’s safety.
What Actions Has Waymo Taken Post-Incident?
Immediately after the incident, Waymo reported that its AV system braked sharply, reducing the car’s speed from 17 mph to less than 6 mph, which reportedly helped mitigate the impact. The company alerted emergency services and later voluntarily contacted NHTSA, expressing willingness to cooperate fully. Waymo commented on their system’s efficacy by referencing a peer-reviewed study which suggested a human driver might have fared worse in the given situation.
“Our technology detected the child as soon as she appeared from behind the parked vehicles and initiated rapid deceleration,”
Waymo stated.
“We are committed to full transparency and will work alongside authorities to improve road safety for everyone,”
the company emphasized.
Do These Incidents Indicate Broader Safety Challenges for Waymo?
The recent collision is not an isolated case. Earlier in 2024, another Waymo vehicle hit a cyclist in San Francisco due to late detection caused by its following position behind a larger vehicle. Additionally, robotaxis have been recalled to fix issues with properly recognizing barriers and chains on roads. While Waymo’s autonomous fleet has surpassed 100 million miles across multiple major cities, each new incident brings further regulatory scrutiny and compels the company to adjust its technology and operating procedures. Expansions into new cities, both in the U.S. and internationally, come at a time when the public and regulators are increasingly vigilant about AV operations.
Waymo has gradually become a prominent figure in automated transportation, frequently highlighting its mileage and overall safety records. However, as seen in documented school bus violations and two recent collisions, challenges persist when self-driving cars interact with unpredictable human behavior, especially in dynamic environments like school zones and busy intersections. While the company adapts through recalls and software updates, the recurring investigations underline the necessity for continuous evaluation of advanced driver-assist systems.
Close review of previous news shows many of the same themes: regulatory scrutiny following Waymo’s operational incidents, voluntary company recalls addressing failures, and repeated interaction issues with vulnerable road users such as children and cyclists. Despite high-profile miles driven and expansion plans, the frequency of these cases and the ongoing federal questioning demonstrate that neither regulatory confidence nor public acceptance is assured without demonstrable improvements in real-world safety outcomes.
It remains essential for all stakeholders—manufacturers, regulators, and local communities—to prioritize transparent communication, thorough investigation, and effective responses to reported issues as autonomous vehicle programs become more ubiquitous. Users, parents, and pedestrians should stay informed about where and how autonomous vehicles operate, especially in areas where children and other high-risk groups are frequently present. Looking ahead, ongoing oversight and feedback will shape the evolution of policies and technical safeguards as the self-driving industry matures.
