The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a formal investigation into an incident involving a Waymo driverless taxi that collided with a child in southern California. The federal transportation regulator announced the inquiry on Thursday, following the event that occurred last week near an elementary school in Santa Monica.
Details of the Santa Monica Incident
According to the NHTSA, the child was struck by the Waymo autonomous vehicle on 23 January during normal school drop-off hours. The agency reported that the child ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV towards the school, leading to the collision. The vicinity included other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles, creating a complex traffic environment.
Scope of the Federal Investigation
The preliminary evaluation will focus on whether the Waymo AV exercised appropriate caution given its proximity to the elementary school during busy drop-off times. Regulators plan to examine the vehicle's intended behavior in school zones and neighboring areas, particularly during school pick-up and drop-off periods. This includes assessing its adherence to posted speed limits and investigating Waymo's post-impact response procedures.
Additionally, the US transportation regulator has opened a separate investigation into how Waymo vehicles approach school buses. Multiple schools have reported incidents where autonomous vehicles failed to stop or fully slow down as children were being dropped off, raising broader safety concerns.
Waymo's Response and Technical Analysis
In a blog post addressing the incident, Waymo stated that its autonomous system, known as the "Waymo Driver," braked hard upon detecting the child. The company claimed the vehicle reduced its speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact was made.
Waymo further argued that, according to their peer-reviewed model, a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. The company noted that after the incident, the child stood up and walked to the sidewalk, while the autonomous car moved to the side of the road.
Broader Implications for Autonomous Vehicle Safety
This investigation comes at a critical time for the self-driving car industry, as companies like Waymo expand their operations. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring autonomous vehicles can safely navigate unpredictable urban environments, especially areas with high pedestrian activity like school zones.
The NHTSA's scrutiny underscores the regulatory focus on protecting vulnerable road users, including children, as autonomous technology becomes more prevalent on public roads. The outcome of this evaluation could influence future safety standards and operational guidelines for self-driving vehicles across the United States.
