Waymo Submits Records in NHTSA Probe of Child Robotaxi Collision
Waymo submitted documents to NHTSA over a January 23 Santa Monica robotaxi collision with a 9-year-old, but public responses remain fully redacted for now.
Summary
On January 23, a Waymo Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi traveling near a Santa Monica, California, school struck a 9-year-old girl who stepped into the street. The vehicle braked from 17 mph to 6 mph before contact near its front-right headlight, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s March preliminary report. The child fell, walked to the curb, reported minor injuries and needed no medical transport. The NTSB investigation is separate from NHTSA’s and typically concludes with a fuller report after 12 months.
NHTSA opened its investigation one week after the crash and, on March 23, its Office of Defects Investigation sent Waymo 12 questions, some with sub-questions, covering school-zone speed limits, complaints about robotaxis near schools and software documentation. Facing a May 8 deadline, Waymo requested clarification and an extension on May 1; senior safety director Matthew Schwall cited the shared goal of supplying relevant evidence without extraordinary production and review burdens. Waymo answered some questions July 8, received more time for 10 of 12 and told TechCrunch on August 20 that its submissions were complete. NHTSA posted an initial batch August 21 after TechCrunch inquired, but every available response was redacted as confidential business information. The agency said it was reviewing other responses and would publish them when completed.
Positives
- Waymo’s Jaguar I-Pace braked from 17 mph to 6 mph before striking the child.
- The 9-year-old walked to the curb, reported minor injuries and required no medical transport.
- Waymo told TechCrunch on August 20 that it had completed its submissions to NHTSA.
- NHTSA opened its investigation one week after the January 23 collision and posted an initial document batch August 21.
- The NTSB issued a March preliminary report and typically publishes a fuller final report after 12 months.
Risks & concerns
- A Waymo robotaxi struck a 9-year-old girl near a Santa Monica school on January 23.
- Every Waymo response publicly available August 21 was redacted as confidential business information, preventing scrutiny of its answers.
- NHTSA’s 12 questions covered school-zone speed limits, complaints about robotaxis near schools and Waymo software documentation.
- Waymo requested clarification and an extension before its May 8 deadline, then received additional time for 10 of 12 questions.
