Waymo Robotaxi Hits Child Near School, Triggering Federal Probe

A federal investigation has been launched over a collision between a Waymo robotaxi and a young student in a Santa Monica, California school zone. The car reportedly exercised the right precautions while operating in the school zone, even if the onboard systems were blindsided by the child dashing from behind a nearby SUV.

The incident occurred last Friday during the drop-off hour at Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica, California. According to federal reports and eyewitness accounts, the child suddenly darted into the street from behind a double-parked SUV. The Waymo vehicle, operating with no human safety driver behind the wheel, struck the child within two blocks of the school. While the student thankfully sustained only minor injuries and was able to walk to the sidewalk before being treated, the event triggered an immediate investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Waymo released a detailed blog post with ...