07:38 AM EDT, 10/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with company comments in the fourth paragraph.)

Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Waymo is under a preliminary investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering some 2,000 self-driving vehicles following reports that the firm's robotaxis may have been unable to follow traffic safety rules around stopped school buses, Reuters reported Monday, citing the NHTSA.

A Waymo autonomous vehicle reportedly didn't stay stationary when approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing, stop arm deployed and crossing control arm extended. The vehicle initially stopped beside the bus then maneuvered around its front, passing the extended stop arm and crossing control arm while students were disembarking, according to the report.

Waymo has "already developed and implemented improvements related to stopping for school buses and will land additional software updates in our next software release," Reuters reported, citing a company spokesperson.

In a response to a query from MT Newswires, Waymo said that NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety and that it will continue to work collaboratively with the agency.

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