Waymo, the autonomous driving tech company, has already begun to address this by starting a voluntary software recall. This decision follows a string of incidents that raised profound safety concerns. Waymo vehicles were recently made subject to a recall, after dozens of reports that the vehicles made illegal U-turns. In Texas, that’s led to at least 19 verified cases of these vehicles going around stopped school buses just since the new school year kicked off in August.
These events have turned into internet spectacles themselves, with personal videos of the moments when Waymo vehicles went haywire circulating widely. The violations were caught on the cameras on school buses that are part of the Austin Independent School District. This has created enormous concern among parents and impacted local electeds.
In response to each of these incidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken action by opening a Federal Investigation into the actions of Waymo. The NHTSA has requested from Waymo a comprehensive account of the school bus incidents. They are required to file this data no later than January 20, 2026.
In one particularly alarming event, a Waymo driverless taxi was filmed inadvertently driving a passenger into a police standoff in downtown Los Angeles. One passenger on their way to Phoenix Airport found herself trapped in a Waymo car. The driver repeated this action of driving in circles several times through a parking lot before finally coming to rest. Fortunately, the passenger managed to get out of the car without any injuries.
Waymo’s Chief Safety Officer, Mauricio Peña, personally intervened to stop the alarming incidents from happening. He assured NGSA that the company has retrofitted their fleet vehicles so they can better respond to these emergencies.
“As a result, we have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to appropriately slowing and stopping in these scenarios,” – Mauricio Peña
Peña reiterated that it is critical to hold safety knowledge and practices at the highest standard. He noted that while Waymo’s safety record shows it experiences twelve times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians compared to human drivers, it is essential to acknowledge when their behavior should improve.
“While we are incredibly proud of our strong safety record showing Waymo experiences twelve times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians than human drivers, holding the highest safety standards means recognizing when our behavior should be better,” – Mauricio Peña
Waymo has made some proactive strides in mitigating these concerns. The company is making more systemic fixes that should improve the chances of halting similar incidents from happening in the future. Vishay Nihalani, Waymo’s public policy director, expressed their determination to learn from these challenges and adjust appropriately.
“analyzed the situation and implemented fixes so that such situations are much less likely to occur in the future,” – Vishay Nihalani
In addition to the software updates, Waymo will continue to monitor its vehicles for additional improvements as they navigate varied urban environments. A spokesperson for Waymo attempted to calm their nerves by reiterating their longstanding commitment to safety.
“Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets. When we encounter unusual events like this one, we learn from them as we continue improving road safety and operating in dynamic cities,” – Waymo spokesperson
These latest incidents have sparked a fierce debate about the safety of AVs and how they operate in relation (or in violation) of established traffic laws. As Waymo continues to expand its presence on the streets of several U.S. cities, it faces heightened scrutiny from regulators and the public alike.
