Waymo robotaxi hits child near school

Waymo reported that one of its robotaxis struck a child in Santa Monica, California, on January 23, resulting in minor injuries. The incident occurred near a school during drop-off hours when the child ran into the vehicle’s path; however, the robotaxi braked hard, reducing its speed significantly before impact. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation to assess the vehicle’s caution in school zones. This follows another NHTSA investigation into Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses in Texas, prompting a recent software recall.

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