Waymo Self-Driving Car Hits Child Near Santa Monica Elementary School

Incident at Grant Elementary School

• ⚠️ A driverless Waymo vehicle struck a young child outside Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica.
• 📌 The incident occurred last Friday morning as parents were dropping off their children, causing significant concern among the community.
• 🚨 A federal investigation is now underway into the incident.

Waymo's Response and Safety Concerns

• 🚗 Waymo stated their vehicle detected the child while traveling at 17 mph, with contact made at 6 mph.
• 🚦 The speed limit in the school zone during school hours is 15 mph, raising questions about the Waymo's speed.
• 💬 Waymo claims their car performed better than a human driver would have, suggesting a human would have made contact at 14 mph.
• 📞 The self-driving car reportedly stayed on the scene and called 911 itself.

Community Reaction and Broader Implications

• 😟 Parents expressed alarm and fear, highlighting the dangers of autonomous vehicles in school zones.
• 💡 One witness emphasized the need for caution, stating, "this is a school and there are kids and there are families and we all just need to be really careful to keep people safe."
• 📈 The incident occurs as Waymo expands its services onto freeways across Los Angeles, prompting discussions about the safety and reliability of autonomous technology in diverse driving conditions.