Waymo Robotaxi Strikes Child in Santa Monica School Zone

NHTSA investigating incident as debate continues over AI driver safety versus human drivers

Published on Feb. 1, 2026

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A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child who ran into the street near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. Waymo claims its vehicle reacted faster and hit the child at a lower speed than a human driver would have, but safety experts argue that context, judgment, and experience also matter in avoiding crashes.

Why it matters

This incident is part of a larger debate over whether self-driving cars can match or exceed the safety of human drivers. As robotaxis spread across America, winning public trust is crucial, and the outcome of this investigation could impact the public's perception of autonomous vehicle safety.

The details

According to police, the Waymo robotaxi was traveling at 17 mph when a child ran out from behind a double-parked SUV. Waymo says the vehicle detected the child and braked, slowing to under 6 mph before impact. The company claims a human driver would have hit the child at around 14 mph. However, safety experts argue that quick reflexes aren't the only factor, and that a careful human driver may have avoided the situation altogether by adjusting their behavior in a school zone or taking a different route.

  • On January 28, 2026, a Waymo robotaxi struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced plans to investigate the incident to determine if the Waymo vehicle exercised appropriate caution in the school zone.

The players

Waymo

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

Philip Koopman

An AV safety expert and emeritus professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Missy Cummings

The former senior safety advisor at NHTSA and the current head of the autonomy and robotics center at George Mason University.

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What they’re saying

“A careful, competent human driver would have avoided a panic stop in the first place by adjusting their driving behavior amid the chaos of school drop-off — or taking a different route altogether.”

— Philip Koopman, AV safety expert and emeritus professor at Carnegie Mellon University (Axios)

“Waymo should share video of the incident to provide more context, including what the child was doing before she emerged from behind the car.”

— Missy Cummings, Former senior safety advisor at NHTSA, now head of the autonomy and robotics center at George Mason University (Axios)

What’s next

NHTSA says it plans to investigate whether the Waymo robotaxi exercised appropriate caution in the school zone.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate over the safety of autonomous vehicles compared to human drivers. While Waymo claims its technology reacted faster and reduced the impact speed, safety experts argue that context, judgment, and experience also play a crucial role in avoiding crashes, especially in complex environments like school zones.