US Regulators Open Investigation After Waymo Vehicle Hits Child Near Santa Monica School
Federal safety regulators opened a probe into Waymo after a vehicle struck a child near a school. The investigation will examine the car's school zone behavior.
Insights:
Washington reported on January 29, 2026, that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening a preliminary evaluation following an incident where a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, located in the US 
US. The collision occurred on January 23 during normal school drop-off hours and resulted in minor injuries to the child. The incident has triggered immediate regulatory scrutiny regarding the behavior of autonomous systems in high-traffic areas where young pedestrians are present.
US. The collision occurred on January 23 during normal school drop-off hours and resulted in minor injuries to the child. The incident has triggered immediate regulatory scrutiny regarding the behavior of autonomous systems in high-traffic areas where young pedestrians are present.
