A fully driverless Waymo vehicle struck a child near a Santa Monica elementary school during morning drop off last week, prompting a new federal safety investigation.
Waymo said the car detected the child emerging from behind a parked SUV, slammed the brakes, and slowed from about 17 mph to under 6 mph before impact. The child suffered minor injuries and was able to walk away, and the company said it immediately called emergency services.
School Zones Are the Ultimate Stress Test
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into whether the vehicle exercised enough caution given the environment. Regulators noted the crash happened during active school drop off hours, with other children, a crossing guard, and multiple double parked vehicles nearby.
That setting raises tough questions about how well autonomous systems handle chaotic, low visibility situations where kids can move unpredictably.
Robotaxi Scrutiny Is Heating Up
This incident adds to mounting pressure on Waymo and the broader self driving industry as expansion accelerates across US cities. The company is already under investigation over reports of its vehicles improperly passing stopped school buses.
As robotaxis become more common, real world edge cases like school zones are becoming the proving ground that could shape how fast regulators allow the technology to scale.