A new incident involving a self-driving taxi operated by Waymo is now under federal investigation after the vehicle was reportedly seen illegally passing a stopped school bus in Austin while students were loading and unloading.
According to reports, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the latest incident, which occurred March 25 and was reported by Austin Independent School District officials.
The case has now been added to an ongoing federal investigation into similar incidents involving Waymo vehicles in Austin.
Officials say this is not an isolated issue.
Austin ISD has previously reported more than 20 violations involving Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses since the start of the school year, raising repeated safety concerns about how autonomous vehicles handle school zones.
Even after a software recall aimed at addressing the problem, additional incidents have continued to occur.
Investigators have already identified at least one earlier case in which a Waymo vehicle initially stopped for a bus—but then proceeded after receiving incorrect guidance from a remote human operator, highlighting the complexity of the system’s decision-making process.
The issue has drawn frustration from local officials. Austin ISD police previously asked the company to suspend operations during school pickup and drop-off times, but the request was declined.
Beyond school bus incidents, Waymo vehicles in Austin have also been linked to other unusual driving situations in recent weeks, including reports of cars entering the wrong lane and stopping past railroad crossing gates.
In a statement, Waymo says it takes safety seriously and will continue working with investigators and local officials.
The NTSB’s investigation remains ongoing, and could lead to future safety recommendations—or additional regulatory scrutiny—as autonomous vehicle use continues to expand in Austin.
