A Waymo robotaxi was involved in an incident with a child close to an elementary school in Santa Monica on January 23. According to the company, the child, whose age has not been disclosed, suffered minor injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into the event, and Waymo has stated that it will fully cooperate with the authorities throughout the inquiry process.
Waymo reported that the robotaxi was traveling at 6 miles per hour when it struck the child, having decelerated from approximately 17 miles per hour. The company explained that the young pedestrian unexpectedly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into the path of the vehicle. The robotaxi's systems detected the child as soon as they began to appear from behind the stopped vehicle.
After the contact, the child reportedly stood up, walked to the sidewalk, and 911 was contacted. The vehicle remained stationary, moved to the side of the road, and stayed there until law enforcement allowed it to leave the scene.
This incident emerges amidst ongoing investigations into Waymo's robotaxis for reportedly passing stopped school buses illegally. The NHTSA opened a probe into this matter in October, following initial reports of similar occurrences in Atlanta, Georgia, while the National Transportation Safety Board has also launched its investigation after multiple incidents were reported in Austin, Texas.
This story is developing...
