The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation after a Waymo autonomous taxi struck a child in Santa Monica, California, last week. The incident occurred on 23 January during peak school drop-off hours, raising concerns about the safety protocols of self-driving vehicles in the vicinity of schools.
Incident Details
According to the NHTSA, the child ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV towards an elementary school. The Waymo vehicle, reportedly in self-driving mode, collided with the child, who sustained only minor injuries. Witnesses reported the presence of other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles in the area at the time of the incident, highlighting the potentially hazardous environment for pedestrians.
The federal agency’s preliminary evaluation will focus on whether Waymo’s autonomous vehicle exercised appropriate caution in a school zone, particularly during busy drop-off periods. The NHTSA will assess the vehicle’s adherence to speed limits and its overall behaviour in such environments. Additionally, the investigation will scrutinise Waymo’s response following the incident.
Waymo’s Response
Waymo released a statement addressing the incident on its blog, detailing the vehicle’s actions prior to the contact. According to the company, the Waymo Driver applied the brakes sharply, reducing its speed from approximately 17 mph to below 6 mph before the collision occurred. They further noted that their peer-reviewed model indicates a fully attentive human driver would have made contact with the pedestrian at a speed of around 14 mph.
Following the incident, Waymo reported that the child was able to stand up and walk to the sidewalk, and the autonomous vehicle subsequently moved to the side of the road.
Ongoing Concerns About Safety
This incident has prompted the NHTSA to expand its scrutiny to include how Waymo vehicles interact with school buses. There have been multiple reports from schools indicating that autonomous vehicles have either failed to stop or did not sufficiently slow down while children were being dropped off. Such incidents raise critical questions about the operational safety of self-driving technologies, particularly in areas frequented by vulnerable road users.
The growing presence of autonomous vehicles on public roads necessitates stringent safety protocols and comprehensive evaluations to ensure they operate safely alongside pedestrians and children.
Why it Matters
The investigation into Waymo’s autonomous vehicle underscores the urgent need for robust safety measures as self-driving technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life. Incidents like the one in Santa Monica highlight the potential risks associated with autonomous vehicles, especially in sensitive environments such as school zones. As cities and communities adapt to this emerging technology, the findings of the NHTSA could shape future regulations and operational standards, ensuring that the safety of the most vulnerable road users remains paramount.
