January 23, 2026 — Santa Monica, California

A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child during normal school drop-off hours, prompting a federal investigation and raising fresh questions about robotaxi safety around schools.

The incident occurred when a child ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV toward the school. The Waymo vehicle — operating in fully autonomous mode — was unable to avoid the collision. The child sustained minor injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation after Waymo reported the crash. According to the agency, the scene included other children, a crossing guard, and multiple double-parked vehicles — a chaotic environment that autonomous systems continue to struggle with.

The Pattern

This isn’t Waymo’s first encounter with vulnerable road users. The Alphabet-owned company has reported multiple incidents involving pedestrians, cyclists, and unpredictable human behavior. While Waymo maintains its vehicles are safer than human drivers overall, school zones remain a particular challenge.

The double-parked SUV that obscured the child’s path represents exactly the kind of edge case that autonomous systems are still learning to handle. Human drivers might anticipate a child darting from behind a parked car near a school. The algorithm, apparently, did not.

What Happens Now

The NHTSA investigation will examine whether Waymo’s software has systemic issues detecting pedestrians in high-traffic school environments. The agency has previously opened investigations into Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Cruise following similar incidents.

For now, Waymo continues operating in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin — including near schools during drop-off hours.

Source: Reuters, Al Jazeera, CNBC (January 29, 2026)