Waymo releases redacted documents in federal robotaxi collision probe

The January 23 incident saw the robotaxi traveling at 17 miles per hour before braking to six miles per hour, hitting the student near the vehicle’s front-right headlight. While the child sustained only minor injuries and required no hospital transport, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched separate investigations into the crash.

Regulators demanded detailed insight into how Waymo’s software calculates speed limits near school zones and whether the company has documented previous complaints regarding behavior near educational facilities. Although Waymo has begun turning over information, the public versions of these responses remain heavily redacted under claims of confidential business information.

Matthew Schwall, Waymo’s senior director of safety, negotiated an extension for the production of these materials, arguing that the company sought to avoid excessive administrative burdens while still providing relevant data. Following a series of letters exchanged between May and July, Waymo confirmed this week that it has completed its required submissions to the agency’s Office of Defects Investigation.