The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a formal investigation into Waymo's robotaxis after the vehicles were observed illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas. The probe follows a preliminary evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that prompted a voluntary software recall from Waymo last December.

Investigators will travel to Austin to gather information on a series of incidents where the automated vehicles failed to stop for loading and unloading students. The school district reported the offenses continued even after Waymo's software update, raising persistent safety concerns about the company's autonomous driving systems.

Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, stated no collisions occurred and expressed confidence in the company's safety performance around school buses. The NTSB expects a preliminary report within 30 days, with a final investigation report taking 12 to 24 months to complete.