Waymo Car Hits Child Near Santa Monica Elementary School

Autonomous vehicle technology reduced impact speed, but child still suffered minor injuries.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:39pm

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during morning drop-off hours on Friday. Waymo said its technology detected the child and reduced the vehicle's speed from around 17 mph to under 6 mph before the collision, but the child still suffered minor injuries.

Why it matters

This incident raises ongoing concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles in areas with high pedestrian traffic, especially around schools. While Waymo claims its technology reduced the severity of the impact, the fact that a child was still hit highlights the challenges self-driving cars face in complex urban environments.

The details

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the child ran across the street from behind a double-parked SUV toward the school, where other children, a crossing guard, and several double-parked cars were present. Waymo said the car's 5th Generation Automated Driving System detected the individual and tried to slow down, but still made contact with the child at under 6 mph. Waymo claims this speed reduction demonstrates the safety benefits of its autonomous technology.

  • The incident occurred on Friday, January 29, 2026, during morning drop-off hours near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for writing and enforcing federal motor vehicle safety standards.

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What’s next

The NHTSA is continuing to investigate the incident to determine the full circumstances and any potential safety implications.

The takeaway

This collision underscores the ongoing challenges autonomous vehicle technology faces in navigating complex urban environments, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic near schools. While Waymo claims its system reduced the impact speed, the fact that a child was still struck highlights the need for further safety improvements and close monitoring of self-driving cars.