Key facts
- Waymo has submitted documents to NHTSA as part of an investigation into a January crash.
- The crash involved a Waymo robotaxi striking a child near a school in Santa Monica, California.
- The child sustained minor injuries.
- NHTSA is investigating Waymo's speed limit protocols around schools and its software.
- Waymo's submitted responses were largely redacted, citing confidential business information.
Waymo has submitted documents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of the regulator's investigation into a January crash where a robotaxi struck a child. The responses, posted to NHTSA's website on Friday, were largely redacted due to confidential business information.
The investigation stems from an incident on January 23 in Santa Monica, California, where a Waymo robotaxi traveling at a reduced speed of six miles per hour collided with a 9-year-old girl. The child sustained minor injuries and did not require medical transport.
NHTSA's inquiry focuses on Waymo's protocols for determining speed limits in school zones, any complaints received about robotaxi behavior near schools, and documentation of Waymo's software. The agency had sent 12 questions to Waymo on March 23, with an initial deadline of May 8. Waymo requested and received an extension, completing its submissions on Thursday.
A separate investigation into the crash is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).