On the morning of January 23, 2026, during normal school drop-off hours near Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica, California, a Waymo robotaxi struck a child who ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV. The child suffered minor injuries. Within days, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation, and a national debate about the safety of autonomous vehicles reignited. Here's what we know about the crash, the investigation, and what happens next.
The Incident: What Happened in Santa Monica
On January 23, 2026, at approximately 8:00 AM, a Waymo autonomous vehicle operating on its fifth-generation automated driving system was traveling near Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica. According to NHTSA documents, the area was bustling with activity typical of school drop-off: there were other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles.
After the collision, the child stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk, and witnesses called 911. The vehicle remained stopped, then moved to the side of the road and stayed there until law enforcement cleared it to leave. Santa Monica Fire Department responders evaluated the child, who was released with minor injuries. No safety operator was present in the vehicle.
Waymo's Defense: "Our Software Prevented Worse"
In a blog post and subsequent statements, Waymo made a bold claim: its autonomous system braked harder and faster than a human driver would have been able to.
The company's computer model simulation: Waymo's actual impact speed was 6 mph, versus a simulated human driver impact speed of 14 mph (22.5 km/h).
"This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver," the company stated. Waymo emphasized that the child was completely hidden by the SUV and that even an attentive human driver would have collided, just at a higher speed.
"A child running into the path of a vehicle presents an incredibly dangerous scenario requiring an immediate response from approaching drivers, whether human or computer. It is important for NHTSA to look into the incident to determine if there were cues potentially missed by the Waymo vehicle that a human driver would have used to avoid a collision." Michael Brooks, Center for Auto Safety
The Investigation: What NHTSA Is Examining
On January 29, 2026, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a preliminary evaluation into the incident. The investigation (RQ26002) covers Waymo's autonomous driving system and will focus on several critical questions:
- Whether the Waymo AV exercised appropriate caution given its proximity to the elementary school during drop-off hours
- The vehicle's intended behavior in school zones and neighboring areas, especially during normal school pickup/drop-off times
- Its adherence to posted speed limits in school zones
- Waymo's post-impact response
NHTSA noted that the crash "occurred within two blocks of a Santa Monica, California, elementary school during normal school drop off hours" and that there were other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked vehicles in the vicinity.
Broader Context: A Pattern of School Zone Concerns
This investigation does not exist in a vacuum. The same day as the Santa Monica incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened a separate investigation into Waymo's behavior around school buses in Austin, Texas.
Austin school bus incidents:
- At least 19 documented instances of Waymo robotaxis illegally passing stopped school buses since the beginning of the 2025-26 school year
- Austin Independent School District reported an average of 1.5 violations per week
- In December 2025, Waymo recalled more than 3,000 vehicles to update software addressing this issue
- The school district asked Waymo to cease operations during school hours until compliance could be guaranteed—Waymo refused
NHTSA had previously opened a probe into Waymo's school bus interactions in October 2025.
Timeline of Events
Reactions: Union Calls for License Suspension
On February 3, 2026, the Teamsters Union of California issued a strong statement calling for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to indefinitely suspend Waymo's operating license in the state.
"This incident is emblematic of the broader goal Big Tech companies have to replace skilled human labor with AI. They want to force millions of people into destitution by destroying their livelihoods, seize money that belongs to workers, and force our communities to reckon with the fallout of automation's shortcomings. Robotaxis threaten workers' jobs and are now terrorizing our kids." Teamsters California Co-Chairs Peter Finn and Victor Mineros
The statement also noted that Waymo vehicles "have continued to illegally ignore school bus stop signs despite a company-wide software recall" and that parents and community members have been "demanding that these vehicles be kept away from school zones."
Waymo's Safety Record: A History of Scrutiny
This is not Waymo's first encounter with federal investigations. In May 2024, NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation after receiving reports of Waymo vehicles crashing into gates, chains, and parked cars, as well as disobeying traffic control devices. That investigation was closed in July 2025.
More recently, in late 2025, Waymo vehicles were involved in two other high-profile incidents:
- A robotaxi ran over and killed a beloved cat named KitKat in San Francisco
- Another Waymo hit an unleashed dog in the city
Waymo maintains that its data shows its robotaxis are involved in "10 times fewer serious injury or worse crashes" compared to human drivers covering the same mileage.
"If AV companies continue to resist state and local governance, additional federal enforcement and oversight is going to be necessary to promote safe autonomous operations." Michael Brooks, Center for Auto Safety
What This Means for the AV Industry
The Santa Monica incident arrives at a critical moment for autonomous vehicle regulation. Waymo is set to testify before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on February 4, 2026, alongside other industry stakeholders.
In written testimony, Waymo called on Congress to pass legislation to advance self-driving vehicles, arguing that U.S. leadership "in the autonomous vehicle sector is now under direct threat" from Chinese competitors.
Yet simultaneously, the company faces growing calls for stricter oversight. The Teamsters' demand for license suspension reflects a broader anxiety about the pace of autonomous deployment without proven safety protocols, particularly around vulnerable populations like children.
Practical Guidance for Communities and Pedestrians
- If you see autonomous vehicles operating near schools, report any unsafe behavior to local authorities and NHTSA
- Teach children about AV safety: the same rules apply as with any vehicle—look both ways, cross at crosswalks, and stay alert
- Know that Waymo vehicles have been operating in Santa Monica and Los Angeles since 2024 and may be in your neighborhood
- Report incidents to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation online at NHTSA.gov/report