On January 23, a Waymo robotaxi struck a child in front of an elementary school in Santa Monica. This tragedy has caused public outcry over the safety of AVs, especially in school zones. The incident has led to two investigations into Waymo’s robotaxi operations. Enforcement officials are looking at claims that the vehicles have been blowing past stopped school buses.
The crash took place during the morning drop-off at school, which made for a nerve-wracking time for parents and school administrators as well. As eyewitnesses said, “The boy just ran out into the street.” This occurred just as the child darted out from behind a large SUV, directly into the path of the approaching robotaxi.
In light of the incident, Waymo put out a pretty robust industry-facing statement clarifying how the collision happened and what was involved. Verge sensors immediately detected the person. This occurred the instant they began to appear from behind the idling car. Waymo emphasized that a fully attentive human driver in the same situation would likely have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph.
After the collision, Waymo stated that the child got up right away and walked home across the sidewalk. The company continued, “We pulled the alarm on 911 right away. The vehicle continued to stop, move off the road, and sat there—inch deep—until a police force officer liberated a car from the scene.” This type of response should indicate the company’s serious commitment to safety and willingness to work with law enforcement authorities.
Waymo announced plans to rapidly grow its robotaxi operations in cities across the country. Well, companies like this one recently came under fire once again for how they operate, especially when it comes to violating traffic laws. Recently, reports have surfaced of some of its vehicles being caught on video illegally overtaking parked school buses that had their flashing lights on. This behavior is absolutely illegal and threatens our children’s lives.
In all of its investigations, Waymo has promised to continue to work closely and in good faith with regulators. In their very recent company-written blog post, they pointed to one such “peer-reviewed model.” Under this model, it describes safety standards and procedures to guide its autonomous vehicle operations. This model serves as a foundation for enhancing robotaxi interactions to pedestrians and other traffic. It takes particular care to consider sensitive areas, like school zones.
The pending investigations will almost certainly look closely as to whether or not Waymo’s technology effectively prioritizes safety in complex, cluttered environments. Public opinion remains divided on the reliability of autonomous vehicles, especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations such as children.
This incident underscores the immediate necessity of strict regulations and oversight. It highlights the critical need to ensure transportation safety in communities where children walk and bike.
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