Waymo cars continue to break laws in Austin despite software claims
Waymo cars in Austin continue to violate traffic laws, despite the company’s claims of updating its software, as shown in new videos. Reports from local outlet KXAN revealed instances of Waymo vehicles illegally passing school buses, risking the safety of students crossing the street. The investigation uncovered 19 such incidents where Waymo cars disregarded the activated stop arms and red lights of Austin Independent School District buses.
Although Waymo initiated a recall of over 3,000 vehicles to address a software glitch that led to these violations, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed fix on December 11, 2025. However, recent findings indicate that Waymo cars are still failing to adhere to traffic regulations in Austin. The most recent incident was captured on December 19, 2025, where a Waymo car appeared to slow down but did not come to a complete stop as pedestrians crossed the street in front of a school bus.
According to KXAN, school bus cameras documented at least 22 instances this school year where Waymo cars passed by with the bus’s stop arm extended, and in seven cases, children were visibly at risk. Despite these repeated violations, a Waymo spokesperson stood by the safety record of the company’s autonomous vehicles. They mentioned that Waymo cars demonstrated significantly fewer pedestrian-related crash incidents compared to human-driven vehicles, emphasizing the company’s commitment to superior driving performance, especially around school buses.
The company acknowledged meeting with the Austin Independent School District to collaborate on data collection involving various light patterns and conditions to enhance their operations. Waymo stated observing notable improvements in their performance following the software update but failed to address the concerns raised by the latest videos depicting ongoing infractions.
The Independent sought a response from the Austin Independent School District on the matter, highlighting the ongoing issue of Waymo cars violating traffic laws in the area. Despite assurances from Waymo regarding software updates and safety measures, the recent video evidence indicates a persistent problem with the company’s compliance with traffic regulations and student safety protocols. The repeated instances of non-compliance raise questions about the effectiveness of the software updates and the overall safety standards maintained by Waymo in operating its autonomous vehicles in Austin.