Waymo Robotaxi Incident in Santa Monica
On January 23, a Waymo robotaxi was involved in an accident near an elementary school in Santa Monica, where it struck a child, causing minor injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the incident, and Waymo has stated that they will fully cooperate with the authorities throughout the process.
According to Waymo, the robotaxi was traveling at 6 miles per hour when it collided with the child after braking hard from 17 miles per hour. The company explained that the young pedestrian suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into the path of their vehicle. The vehicle detected the individual as soon as they emerged from behind the stopped vehicle.
After the collision, the child stood up, walked to the sidewalk, and emergency services were contacted. The vehicle remained stationary until law enforcement allowed it to leave the scene. This incident comes as Waymo faces scrutiny for its robotaxis illegally passing school buses, with investigations ongoing in Atlanta and Austin.
The NHTSA reported that the accident occurred within close proximity to the elementary school during drop-off hours, with other children, a crossing guard, and double-parked vehicles in the area. The Office of Defects Investigation is looking into whether the Waymo AV exercised appropriate caution given the circumstances.
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Waymo stated in a blog post that their analysis shows a human driver in the same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. While specific details of the crash were not disclosed, Waymo remains committed to transparency and road safety in their operations.