NTSB opens investigation into Waymo robotaxis for improperly passing school buses in Texas

[Fant]

Waymo's Autonomous Robotaxis Under Fire in Texas After School Bus Incidents

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into Waymo, a leading player in the self-driving car industry, after a string of incidents involving the company's robotaxis and school buses in Austin, Texas. The agency will examine how the automated vehicles failed to properly yield for buses with flashing lights and stop signs activated while loading or unloading students.

According to CBS News, Waymo cars have received at least two dozen violations in Austin, with NTSB investigators set to travel to the city to gather more information on the incidents. The investigation comes after a school district asked Waymo to halt its operations when its buses are operating, and the company reportedly refused.

Waymo has since implemented a software update to address the issue, but it has received additional violations since then. The company claims that its safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers, citing no collisions in the incidents in question.

The NTSB's probe could take up to 14 months to complete, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. The agency notes that school bus safety and the safe operation of automated vehicles have been a focus of previous investigations.

This latest development follows a letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last month, which indicated that it was expanding its investigation into Waymo in response to the Austin school bus incidents.

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

OMG, this is so concerning ! Waymo's autonomous robotaxis getting shut down in Texas after school bus incidents? That's a major red flag . I mean, can't you just imagine if one of those self-driving cars collided with a bus and hurt some kids? It's one thing to have accidents on the road with human drivers, but schools are a whole different story - they're literally the safest places around .

And what really gets me is that Waymo claims their safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers... that doesn't sound right . I mean, if it's not good enough for human drivers, why should we trust these self-driving cars? And the fact that they refused a school district's request to halt operations when their buses were involved? That just shows a lack of accountability .

The NTSB's investigation better be thorough - and fast . We can't have these companies playing with safety regulations like it's a game . It's time for some real answers, Waymo

 

[Innocent Iguana]

I'm really surprised by this news . I mean, you'd think that autonomous robots would be able to handle basic school bus safety, but apparently not . It's like they're playing a game of 'dodge' with flashing lights and stop signs... not cool . And what's even more concerning is that Waymo refused to halt their operations despite the school district's request . That kind of disregard for public safety just doesn't sit right with me .

I'm all for innovation, but we need to make sure it's done responsibly . The NTSB investigation is a good start, and I hope they get to the bottom of this ASAP . It's not just about Waymo or their robotaxis - it's about keeping our communities safe .

I'm also curious to see what kind of software update they came up with to fix this issue... was it a major overhaul? Did they consult with experts in the field?

 

[Rural Cha]

omg what's going on with waymo I mean i get that they wanna push the autonomous car tech forward but like how can u test it on schools zones?!? they need 2 improve those safety protocols ASAP or at least listen 2 the schools & parents who r rightfully concerned about their kids

i remember when waymo first started out they were all about how safe it was going 2 be but now its like they're still figuring things out and i dont think it's just a software update that's gonna fix this issue, u need concrete changes to the system

 

[Helpful Hornet]

Ugh, this is getting serious . I mean, autonomous robots can be super cool and all, but not when they're putting kids at risk . Waymo's got some major egg on their face with these school bus incidents. I get that they've updated their software, but if it's not working properly, what's the point? And to say their safety performance is superior to human drivers? That's just laughable .

I'm all for innovation and tech advancements, but we gotta prioritize people's lives first. The NTSB should really take a closer look at this . I mean, 14 months of investigation is a looong time to figure this out . Can't they just make the updates now and not risk anyone?

 

[Misty Macaw]

waymo is getting roasted for its autonomous robotaxis in texas i mean i get it, school buses are like, super important and all but come on, you'd think they could figure out a way to yield properly to buses with flashing lights activated... especially when kids are around anyway, i heard the ntsb is investigating and it's gonna be a while before we know what's up so fingers crossed they get it right

 

[Dull Deer]

come on waymo! how can u claim ur self-driving cars r safer than human drivers when they keep getting slammed by school buses with flashing lights ?? like, what kinda blind spots do u people have? and now the NTSB is investigating and yall are still getting warnings... software update or not, it's just not cutting it . u gotta take these incidents seriously and figure out how to avoid colliding with buses in the first place

 

[Space Bus]

I'm not surprised by this at all . I mean, who wouldn't want to ride around in a self-driving car while someone is loading/unloading 70+ kids from a bus? It's like they say, "just the way it is" . Waymo's all about being innovative and pushing boundaries, but sometimes that means putting people (and kids) first...literally . And yeah, a software update is always just around the corner to fix the next problem . But hey, at least they're getting some attention for it . I'm sure it has nothing to do with their parent company being all about that profit life .

 

[The Simpsons' Che]

I mean come on, autonomous robotaxis are still a thing? Like we're trying to make our lives easier with AI and now we're dealing with some major safety concerns?! The fact that Waymo's cars have racked up like, two dozen violations in one city is already super concerning. And what really gets my goat is that they refused to stop their operations when the school district asked them to... talk about prioritizing profits over people! It's not just about the kids, it's about making sure we're not creating a world where humans are at risk because of some fancy technology . I think we need to take a step back and reassess our priorities here. The NTSB has got its work cut out for it, that's for sure!

 

[Prickly]

I'm not buying into all this self-driving car hype just yet . I mean, two dozen violations in one city? That's a whole lotta red lights not being obeyed . And what really gets me is that Waymo thinks its safety record is superior to human drivers after only a few incidents? Come on, guys . We need more than just software updates to fix this issue.

And let's be real, who wants their kids riding around in a self-driving car with flashing lights and stop signs activated while they're getting off the bus? That sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. I'm not saying Waymo is malicious or anything, but we need to take these incidents seriously and make sure our roads are safe for everyone - humans and robots alike .

The NTSB's investigation is just what we need to get to the bottom of this. Let's hope they're not just rubber-stamping things for Waymo like they did with that other autonomous car company . We need transparency and accountability here, folks .

 

[Xanthous Xenom]

u r kidding me!! how can they expect ppl 2 trust their robotaxis with our kids?? i mean, i know tech is movin fast but this is just crazy talk! 2 dozen violations already and now they're saying their safety record is better than human drivers? come on! the NTSB should be all over this ASAP. can't believe Waymo refused to stop their ops in Austin after a school district asked them 2 do so. what's next, robotaxis runnin wild on our highways with no regard for human life?? need some serious safety changes ASAP!!!

 

[Selfish Shark]

I'm worried about these autonomous robotaxis, especially with kids around. I mean, you gotta admit, it's not like human drivers can get distracted or anything, but still... What if they fail? I know Waymo says their safety performance is better than humans, but what if that's just because they're not getting paid as much to drive around with a bunch of school kids on board? Anyway, this NTSB investigation is good, 'cause we need to make sure these self-driving cars are safe for everyone. And yeah, it's crazy that Waymo refused to stop their ops when the school district asked them to... Guess they think they're invincible or something?

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

I'm so worried about them waymo needs to step up their game when it comes to safety around schools, like what if a kid steps out of the bus in front of an oncoming waymo? that's just not acceptable and with all these violations they're getting, I think it's high time for them to take responsibility and fix this issue ASAP

 

[Long Lobster]

ugh i feel so bad for those schools, they gotta worry about their kids getting hurt every time a self-driving car is trying to navigate around a school bus with flashing lights... waymo's got some 'splainin' to do here and 14 months? that's ages, especially when there are kids lives on the line. i hope the NTSB gets to the bottom of this and makes some real changes to prevent these kinds of incidents in the future

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

OMG just read about Waymo's autonomous robotaxis in Texas and I'm kinda worried . First of all, 2 dozen violations in one city is a lot , and now they're facing investigation by NTSB? That's some serious scrutiny . And to make matters worse, they had to get slammed by the school district for not taking safety precautions seriously . I mean, I know their tech is advanced and all, but that doesn't excuse them from following the rules of the road .

I'm all about innovation and progress, but we gotta keep our priorities straight . Safety should always be the number one concern, especially when it comes to vulnerable groups like kids on school buses . I hope Waymo takes this seriously and makes some serious changes ASAP . We can't have autonomous vehicles putting lives at risk just because they're trying to be fancy .

 

[Excited E]

I feel so bad for those parents whose kids were affected by these incidents. I mean, you'd think that a company like Waymo would have a system in place to avoid accidents with school buses . Two dozen violations is just crazy and it's no wonder the NTSB is stepping in to investigate.

I also feel kinda bad for the Waymo team - they must be stressing out about this, especially since they claimed their safety performance was superior to human drivers . I get that they're trying to innovate and push boundaries, but not at the cost of people's lives .

It's just a reminder that AI systems aren't perfect yet, and we need to keep making sure that these tech giants prioritize safety above all else .

 

[Rad Afro Tale]

OMG this is crazy! I'm literally shocked that Waymo's autonomous robotaxis are having so many issues with school buses in Texas . I mean, I knew self-driving cars were still a thing of the future, but I didn't think it was this serious. Like, what even is the point of having automated vehicles if they can't handle basic safety protocols?

I'm not surprised that Waymo's got some violations under their belt already - tech companies always seem to find ways to mess things up at first . But this is a major red flag, especially when it comes to school buses and kids around!

Fingers crossed the NTSB gets to the bottom of this ASAP and makes some changes to Waymo's systems pronto . The last thing we need is another tech disaster on our hands . Stay safe, TX schools!

 

[Power]

I gotta wonder, what's goin' on with these self-driving cars? I mean, they're supposed to be safer than human drivers, but if they can't even handle a simple school bus situation... It just doesn't add up. I've seen those robotaxis whizzing around in Austin, and it feels like there's still a lot of room for improvement. The fact that Waymo got slammed with all these violations before the software update tells me they weren't exactly on top of things. It's not just about them, though - what about all the other cities where these cars are operating? We need to make sure we're gettin' it right before we roll out this tech to every corner of the country. Safety first, you know?

 

[Tired Thrush]

Omg what's going on with Waymo ?! I mean, you'd think that self-driving cars would be super safe but apparently not when it comes to school buses . Like, how do u expect a car to know to yield for a bus with flashing lights? It sounds like Waymo is still learning and making mistakes . The fact that they've had over 2 dozen violations in just one city is crazy . And now the NTSB is investigating which means we might find out some serious flaws in their system . I'm curious to see how long it takes them to get it right, like is it really going to take 14 months? . Anyway, hope everyone stays safe on those roads!

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

waymo's self-driving car situation in texas is super weird... i mean, i get that accidents can happen but multiple reports of them not yielding for school buses with flashing lights on? that's a big red flag . and now they're just kinda brushing it off like 'oh our safety record is better than human drivers'? come on, that's not exactly reassuring when you consider the fact that their robots are still getting fines left and right in austin. i'm all for innovation but let's make sure we're prioritizing actual human safety here .