Waymo submits redacted docs in NHTSA child collision probe
Original: Waymo hands over documents in NHTSA’s child collision probe
Why This Matters
Federal scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety near schools marks a key regulatory milestone for the robotaxi industry.
Waymo has submitted documents to NHTSA as part of an investigation into a January 2026 crash in which a Waymo robotaxi struck a 9-year-old girl in Santa Monica, California. The submitted responses were fully redacted, citing confidential business information.
Waymo has responded to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation into a January 23, 2026 crash in Santa Monica, California, in which a Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi struck a 9-year-old girl near a school. The vehicle was traveling at 17 mph, braked to 6 mph before impact, and struck the child near its front-right headlight. The girl reported minor injuries and did not require medical transport.
NHTSA announced its investigation one week after the incident and sent 12 questions to Waymo on March 23. Waymo's original deadline was May 8, but the company requested an extension in a May 1 letter signed by Senior Director of Safety Matthew Schwall. NHTSA granted Waymo additional time to answer 10 of the 12 questions. Waymo provided responses in a July 8 letter and confirmed to TechCrunch it has completed all submissions.
The documents posted to NHTSA's website were entirely redacted, citing 'confidential business information.' NHTSA stated it is 'reviewing other responses and will publish them in the investigation file upon completion.' NHTSA's inquiry covers topics including Waymo's speed limit detection in school zones and any complaints about robotaxi behavior near schools. A separate NTSB investigation is also ongoing, with a final report expected after 12 months.