A newly released federal report concludes that a Waymo robotaxi did not behave recklessly when it struck a child near Grant Elementary School earlier this year — but investigators say the crash underscores ongoing safety challenges for autonomous vehicles operating in complex, real-world environments.
In its preliminary findings, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the vehicle’s automated driving system detected the child and applied heavy braking before impact, significantly reducing its speed. Investigators did not find evidence that the robotaxi was speeding or intentionally disregarded traffic laws. However, the agency is continuing to examine how autonomous systems anticipate sudden pedestrian movements, particularly in school zones.
The January crash occurred during morning drop-off hours near a Santa Monica elementary campus. According to previous reporting, the child ran from behind a double-parked SUV into the street. The Waymo vehicle, operating without a human safety driver, slowed dramatically but was unable to avoid contact. The child sustained minor injuries.
While the Waymo was hardly going at recklessly dangerous speed, it should be noted that the Waymo was likely going over the speed limit moments before the crash. School zones have automatic speed limits of 15 miles per hour and that Waymo itself conceded that the car was going “about 17 miles per hour” when the child crossed in front of the car. The NTSB report notes the crash occured after the speed limit had gone from 15 mph to 25 mph by about 40 feet.
The incident prompted parallel scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is evaluating broader performance questions involving autonomous vehicles and vulnerable road users.
In its report on the Santa Monica crash, the NTSB emphasized that while the system responded within its programmed capabilities, edge cases — such as a child darting into traffic from between parked vehicles — remain among the most difficult scenarios for both human drivers and automated systems.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the agency has indicated it may issue safety recommendations as it continues reviewing data from Waymo and similar operators nationwide.
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