How did the accident happen?
The incident occurred during daytime on a residential road near a primary school. According to Waymo, the child suddenly came running onto the road from behind a large SUV parked on the side of the road. The car was traveling at about 17 miles per hour (27 kilometers per hour) before the collision. As soon as the sensor detected the child, the car applied brakes hard. At the time of the collision the speed of the car had reduced to 6 miles per hour.
The car itself called the police
The child suffered minor injuries as the speed of the car reduced. After the collision, the child himself got up and went to the footpath. The car itself called emergency services as soon as the collision occurred and remained there until the police arrived.
Waymo under investigation
A few days after this incident, America’s safety regulatory body NHTSA has started a formal investigation. This is not the only ongoing investigation against Waymo. Waymo is already undergoing several investigations regarding safety in school zones. A Waymo car overtook a school bus in Atlanta instead of stopping, even though the bus had a stop sign. At the same time, investigation is going on in Austin also about 20 similar incidents with school buses.
Big challenges and questions
Driving near schools is one of the most difficult tasks for any system because children come out of nowhere and onto the road.
Children’s behavior – Children may suddenly run onto the road, which is difficult to spot.
Stopped vehicles – Due to the vehicles parked on the roadside, the sensor cannot see the person coming from the other side. This increases the security risk.
Parents’ concerns – Many parents believe that until this technology becomes completely safe, it should not be used near schools.
Now what next?
Waymo says they are cooperating fully with the investigation and that the data they have shows their cars cause fewer accidents than human drivers. However, experts say that when it comes to child safety, data alone is not enough. The results of this investigation will determine whether robotaxi should be allowed to operate near schools. At present, local parents and safety experts are very concerned about the operation of these cars.
