Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle subsidiary, announced a voluntary software recall on 5th December 2025 after its robotaxis illegally passed stopped school buses and were involved in other safety incidents. The recall affects the entire fleet.
Between September and November 2025, Waymo vehicles improperly navigated around school buses on at least two occasions, with one incident occurring on 19th November in San Francisco when a robotaxi passed a stopped bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. The company reported these violations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees vehicle safety standards in the United States. Beyond school bus incidents, Waymo vehicles struck and killed two pets in San Francisco in recent weeks, and another robotaxi drove through an active police standoff scene. The software update, deployed across Waymo's fleet of approximately 700 vehicles operating in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, aims to improve detection and response protocols for emergency vehicles and school buses.
The recall underscores ongoing challenges in autonomous vehicle technology. Waymo's proactive disclosure to federal regulators demonstrates accountability, yet the incidents suggest gaps in sensor interpretation and decision-making algorithms. According to Waymo, its cars are already safer than human drivers – and lead to five times less injury-related crashes – but as driverless technology expands, ensuring robotaxis can safely interact with vulnerable road users—including children near school buses and pets—remains paramount for public trust and regulatory approval.
Sources:
1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/05/waymo-to-issue-software-recall-over-how-robotaxis-behave-around-school-buses/
2. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/waymo-issue-voluntary-software-recall-after-close-calls/story?id=128207776
3. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/06/nx-s1-5635614/waymo-school-buses-recall
4. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/waymo-robotaxi-hits-dog-san-francisco-21217764.php
