## Waymo Under Scrutiny for Passing Stopped Bus
Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, is facing inten...
Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, is facing intense scrutiny after one of its self-driving cars was caught on camera illegally passing a stopped school bus in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. The incident has sparked outrage among lawmakers and raised questions about the safety and accountability of autonomous vehicles on public roads.
The incident occurred when a Waymo vehicle, operating in dri...
The incident occurred when a Waymo vehicle, operating in driverless mode, drove around a school bus that had its stop sign out and lights flashing as children were disembarking. This egregious violation of traffic laws has prompted Georgia State Representative Clint Crowe to express his astonishment and concern. Crowe, who co-sponsored legislation increasing penalties for passing stopped school buses, emphasized the need to reevaluate traffic laws to address situations where autonomous vehicles break the rules[1][2].
The incident highlights a broader challenge in regulating au...
The incident highlights a broader challenge in regulating autonomous vehicles. Since these cars do not have human drivers, traditional penalties such as fines and driver's license suspensions do not apply. Instead, lawmakers are considering new legislation that would allow police to issue citations to the operating companies of self-driving vehicles. In California, similar legislation is set to come into effect in July 2026, which could serve as a model for other states[2].
This safety scare is not isolated. Waymo has faced several i...
This safety scare is not isolated. Waymo has faced several incidents in recent years, including collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. In 2023, a self-driving car from a different company, Cruise, was involved in a serious incident in San Francisco, which led to significant public backlash against autonomous vehicles. Despite these challenges, Waymo maintains that its vehicles are safer than human-driven cars in the areas they operate, citing millions of miles of accident data[3][6].
The incident has also attracted federal attention, with Waym...
The incident has also attracted federal attention, with Waymo now under investigation for its handling of the situation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or other federal agencies may look into how Waymo's vehicles respond to common traffic scenarios, such as stopped school buses, to ensure public safety[3][8].
As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent on public roads...
As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent on public roads, incidents like these underscore the need for clear regulations and accountability measures. Lawmakers and safety experts are calling for more robust oversight to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that the benefits of autonomous vehicles are realized without compromising public safety.
In response to the incident, Waymo has stated that it is inv...
In response to the incident, Waymo has stated that it is investigating how the vehicle failed to comply with traffic laws. The company is working to improve its technology to prevent such incidents, but the incident serves as a reminder that even the most advanced systems can fail, and that robust safety protocols are essential for widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 4:30:42 PM
Public reaction to Waymo’s self-driving car passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and extended stop arms has been sharply critical. Georgia State Representative Clint Crowe, co-sponsor of Addy’s Law which fines up to $1,000 for illegal passing of school buses, called it “a problem” and emphasized that such laws must also apply to driverless vehicles, raising questions about responsibility without a human driver[9][4]. State Senator Rick Williams echoed these concerns, labeling the incident “too dangerous for our children”[4]. The video of the incident sparked widespread concern about the readiness of autonomous vehicles to safely navigate complex traffic scenarios involving children[4][9].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 4:40:51 PM
Breaking News Update: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified its scrutiny of Waymo following an incident where a Waymo vehicle passed a stopped school bus, potentially violating traffic safety laws. As part of a broader investigation, NHTSA has added nine more incidents to its preliminary evaluation, examining Waymo's autonomous vehicle software for its ability to detect and respond to traffic safety control devices[2]. While Waymo has reported some incidents, others were discovered through public postings on social media platforms, highlighting concerns about the vehicles' unexpected driving behaviors[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 4:50:58 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Waymo's driverless car illegally passing a stopped school bus in Atlanta has been sharply critical and concerned. Georgia lawmakers like State Representative Clint Crowe, co-sponsor of Addy's Law which imposes fines up to $1,000 and jail time for such violations, expressed shock and emphasized the challenge of assigning responsibility for autonomous vehicles without drivers, stating, "These cars don't have a driver, so we're really going to have to rethink who's responsible"[2][5][9]. The incident reignited fears about the readiness and safety of autonomous vehicle technology, with some calling it "too dangerous for our children" and highlighting the risk to pedestrian safety[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:01:07 PM
Waymo faces increased scrutiny after its autonomous vehicle passed a stopped school bus, triggering an NHTSA investigation that has further complicated the company’s expansion plans amid a competitive autonomous vehicle market[1][4]. This incident, coupled with regulators’ suspension of Waymo’s California expansion until at least June 2026, opens opportunities for rivals like Tesla and Cruise to gain ground as public and regulatory trust in Waymo’s safety record wavers[4][8]. Analysts note that while Waymo has historically led in miles driven and safety, this latest controversy could shift the competitive landscape by amplifying calls for more cautious autonomous deployment[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:11:05 PM
Waymo faces a new federal safety investigation after one of its self-driving vehicles passed a stopped school bus in Arizona, initially stopping but then maneuvering around the bus’s front—a potential violation of traffic laws[1]. The probe, launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), comes as Waymo seeks to expand into high-profile markets like New York City, where it recently applied for a permit to test autonomous vehicles (though state law still requires a human operator)[9]. “This incident underscores the intense regulatory and public scrutiny facing autonomous vehicle leaders as they scale, especially with rivals like Tesla preparing limited robotaxi launches and regulators in California already delaying Waymo’s expansion plans until at least June 19, 2025
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:21:04 PM
Following reports that Waymo's autonomous vehicles passed a stopped bus, prompting scrutiny from U.S. regulators, Alphabet's shares (GOOG, GOOGL) showed resilience, with retail investor sentiment described as "extremely bullish" on Stocktwits and message volume hitting "extremely high" levels over 24 hours[2]. Despite the investigation involving 367 incidents, including crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed the probe after Waymo's recalls and software updates, which seemingly calmed market fears[2]. Meanwhile, Alphabet's stock price modestly increased by 0.83% amidst wider market optimism, even as protest-related disruptions temporarily affected Waymo's service in Los Angeles[6].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:31:05 PM
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it has opened a preliminary investigation into approximately 2,000 Waymo robotaxis after reports surfaced that the vehicles failed to remain stopped at school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms, instead maneuvering around the bus while students were disembarking[4][5]. A viral video captured in Atlanta shows a driverless Waymo vehicle passing a stopped school bus in clear violation of Georgia’s Addy’s Law—which carries fines up to $1,000 and possible jail time—prompting state lawmakers to question who is legally responsible when an autonomous vehicle breaks traffic laws[2][12].
Waymo, in response, said it has
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:40:59 PM
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary investigation into about **2,000 Waymo self-driving vehicles** following an incident where a Waymo robotaxi passed a stopped school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, a clear violation of traffic safety laws[2][4]. This federal probe has drawn international attention as Waymo, owned by Alphabet, plans to expand its autonomous fleet globally, including upcoming launches in Tokyo and London, raising concerns over how driverless cars will comply with varying traffic regulations worldwide[4]. Georgia lawmakers have sharply criticized the incident, highlighting challenges in assigning legal responsibility when autonomous vehicles violate laws designed with human drivers in mind[5][7].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 5:51:02 PM
Waymo’s recent incident of passing a stopped bus has sparked scrutiny but has not triggered negative market reactions; in fact, Waymo's estimated secondary market stock price rose modestly to around $77.08, up 1.28% on October 20, 2025. Retail investor sentiment on platforms like Stocktwits remains ‘extremely bullish’ around Alphabet, Waymo’s parent company, reflecting confidence despite regulatory probes and operational challenges[2][7]. The market appears to maintain optimism due to Waymo’s expanding ride volumes and operational scaling across multiple cities.
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:01:14 PM
In the wake of Waymo's driverless car illegally passing a stopped school bus in Atlanta, public reaction has been intense, with many expressing concerns about safety and accountability. Georgia State Representative Clint Crowe emphasized the need to rethink who is responsible when autonomous vehicles violate traffic laws, stating, "We're really gonna have to rethink about who's the responsible party" [1]. The incident has added to growing public scrutiny of autonomous vehicle companies, with federal investigations now underway into multiple incidents involving Waymo vehicles [4][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:11:26 PM
Waymo is now facing a federal investigation after a September 22, 2025 incident in Atlanta, Georgia, where footage shows one of its autonomous vehicles navigating around a stopped school bus while the bus’s red safety lights and stop arm were activated—a clear traffic violation prompting scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration[1][3][5]. While Waymo reports that its vehicles are involved in fewer crashes and injuries than human drivers over millions of miles, safety expert Carol Flannagan counters, “I’m not prepared to say, ‘Yes,’ definitively to that statement. I just don’t think there’s enough miles” to support such a conclusion[2]. NHTSA documents now cite a total of 31
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:21:24 PM
Waymo is under federal investigation after one of its autonomous vehicles passed a stopped school bus by briefly turning right to avoid the bus’s extended stop arm, raising concerns about its software’s decision-making in critical safety scenarios[1][3]. This incident adds to a growing list of 31 reported unexpected or hazardous behaviors by Waymo’s robotaxis, including collisions with stationary objects and improper lane use, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to scrutinize the vehicle’s ability to detect and respond to traffic control devices[2]. The investigation highlights key technical challenges in sensor occlusion and object recognition that could impact regulatory approval for Waymo’s expanding robotaxi services.
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:31:35 PM
In Atlanta on September 22, 2025, a Waymo autonomous vehicle illegally passed a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended—a clear violation of Georgia traffic law, which increased penalties for such infractions just last year[1][3]. State Representative Clint Crowe, a co-sponsor of that legislation, emphasized that “the law applies to autonomous cars as well,” but raised unresolved questions about enforcement: “These cars don’t have a driver, so they don’t have a driver's license... we’re really gonna have to rethink about who’s the responsible party, who’s gonna be considered to be in control of that vehicle”[1]. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NH
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:41:36 PM
On September 22, 2025, a Waymo robotaxi in Atlanta, Georgia, passed a stopped school bus that had its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, triggering a federal probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)[1][3][7]. The incident—caught on footage—shows the autonomous vehicle initially stopping, then maneuvering around the bus, raising fresh scrutiny over Waymo’s safety protocols just as rivals like Tesla and Cruise are accelerating their own robotaxi rollouts in urban markets[11]. While Waymo’s fleet continues to expand in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles and eyes future launches in New York and Miami, this safety lapse could temporarily slow regulatory approvals and
🔄 Updated: 10/20/2025, 6:51:42 PM
Waymo is under federal investigation after a self-driving vehicle passed a stopped school bus in Atlanta on September 22, 2025, despite the bus displaying red safety lights and an extended stop arm. The autonomous car initially stopped but then maneuvered around the front of the bus, an action raising concerns about its software's ability to properly detect and respond to traffic control devices, which is central to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) probe[1][3]. This incident adds to a growing number of cases—over 31 reported to NHTSA—involving Waymo vehicles exhibiting unexpected or unsafe driving behaviors such as collisions with stationary objects and navigating construction zones, prompting questions about the robustness of Waymo’s sensor interpretatio