Waymo plans to file a voluntary software recall with federal safety regulators regarding how its robotaxis operate near school buses. The decision, announced to TechCrunch, follows increased scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after incidents where Waymo’s self-driving cars improperly navigated around stopped school buses in Atlanta and Austin. The NHTSA had initiated an investigation after a video showed a Waymo vehicle swerving around a bus with extended stop signs.
Waymo updated its software on November 17 to address the issue, claiming enhancements that improve performance beyond that of human drivers in these critical situations. Although school district officials in Austin reported numerous incidents of robotaxis illegally passing school buses, Waymo maintains that there have been no related injuries and emphasizes their commitment to safety.
The company has previously issued two voluntary software recalls this year and plans to continue monitoring and improving its systems in partnership with NHTSA.
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