NHTSA Launches Safety Probe After Waymo Self-Driving Car Injures Child Near Elementary School

On January 25, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it has opened an investigation into a crash involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle. The incident occurred on January 23 near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, when a Waymo self-driving car struck a child who suddenly ran out from behind a double-parked SUV, resulting in minor injuries to the child. The crash happened during school arrival and dismissal hours, with other children, crossing guards, and multiple illegally parked vehicles present at the scene. NHTSA will assess whether the vehicle exercised sufficient caution in the school zone—including adherence to posted speed limits—and will review its expected behavior in similar scenarios as well as its response following the collision. The investigation focuses on the safety performance of the automated driving system when encountering vulnerable road users, such as child pedestrians.