Waymo is set to voluntarily initiate a software recall in collaboration with federal safety regulators concerning the operation of its robotaxis around school buses, as stated by the Alphabet-owned organization to TechCrunch.

The voluntary software recall is anticipated to be submitted early next week, according to the company. Waymo noted that it updated its software on November 17, immediately upon recognizing the issue. The company maintains that this update has significantly enhanced performance to a level surpassing human drivers in this crucial area.

Software recalls have become increasingly prevalent with the rise of modern passenger vehicles — and now robotaxis — where operations are managed by software. These updates, or corrections, are frequently enacted prior to the official recall but still hold significance when registered with the federal government.

Waymo’s move comes amid heightened scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and criticism from officials in Atlanta and Austin regarding the performance of its robotaxis around school buses.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) initiated its preliminary investigation into Waymo in October after observing footage of its autonomous vehicle maneuvering around a stationary school bus — with its stop sign extended and lights flashing — that was discharging children in Atlanta. During that event, a Waymo robotaxi crossed perpendicularly in front of the school bus from its right side. The autonomous vehicle subsequently turned left around the front of the bus before proceeding down the street.

Other comparable incidents have emerged in Austin, where the company also runs a robotaxi service in partnership with Uber. Officials from the Austin School District argue in a letter available on NHTSA’s website that at least five such occurrences transpired after Waymo announced its software update.

The agency sent a letter on December 3 to Waymo requesting additional information regarding its self-driving system and its operations following reports from the Austin School District claiming its robotaxis illegally passed school buses 19 times this year. Regulators sought detailed information about its fifth-generation self-driving system and operations.

“Although we are extremely proud of our excellent safety record indicating that Waymo experiences twelve times fewer injury crashes involving pedestrians than human drivers, adhering to the highest safety standards involves acknowledging when our conduct should improve,” stated Waymo Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña in an emailed statement. “Consequently, we have chosen to submit a voluntary software recall with NHTSA concerning the need to appropriately slow down and stop in these situations. We will continue to evaluate our vehicles’ performance and implement necessary updates as part of our commitment to ongoing improvement.”

The company reported that no injuries were linked to the vehicle behavior addressed in this recall, having reiterated that safety remains its foremost priority and that it will persist in collaborating with NHTSA.  

The organization asserts it will keep investigating, monitoring, and rolling out further updates as required.

Waymo also carried out a voluntary software recall earlier this year along with two in 2024, including one that occurred after a Waymo vehicle in Phoenix, operating without a human safety operator, collided with a telephone pole in an alley during a low-speed maneuver.