Student Collides with Waymo Autonomous Vehicle Near Santa Monica School

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A student was involved in a low-speed collision with a Waymo autonomous vehicle near Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica, California. According to police, the student entered the roadway outside of a crosswalk and away from an on-duty crossing guard. Waymo stated its technology immediately detected the individual and braked hard, reducing the impact speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of autonomous vehicle technology interacting with pedestrians, especially near schools where children may not always follow traffic safety protocols. It also demonstrates the potential safety benefits of self-driving cars in reducing the severity of collisions.

The details

The collision occurred around 7:40 a.m. near 24th Street and Pearl Street, adjacent to the Grant Elementary School campus. Waymo said its vehicle was traveling at approximately 17 mph when the pedestrian "suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle's path." The Waymo vehicle was able to brake and reduce its speed to under 6 mph before making contact. Santa Monica police are investigating the incident, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has indicated it will open an investigation as well.

• The collision occurred around 7:40 a.m. on January 23, 2026.
• Waymo voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the same day.

What’s next

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has indicated it will open an investigation into the incident, and Waymo has said it will cooperate fully throughout the process.