Waymo submits redacted documents to NHTSA regarding robotaxi collision

Waymo has submitted documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of an ongoing investigation into a collision involving a robotaxi and a child. The documents, released following a request, are largely redacted, with Waymo citing “confidential business information” as the reason for the blacked-out sections.

The investigation stems from a January 23 incident in Santa Monica, California, where a Waymo vehicle, operating a Jaguar I-Pace, struck a nine-year-old girl who had stepped into the roadway near a school zone. Although the vehicle slowed from 27 km/h to 10 km/h before impact, the child was still struck. According to preliminary reports, the child sustained minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.

The NHTSA is examining several technical aspects, including how the autonomous system evaluates speed limits in school zones and its historical performance in school-adjacent environments. The agency's inquiries also cover specific software versions and vehicle identification numbers for Waymo's fleet to determine if the incident reflects a broader systemic issue.