A Waymo robotaxi struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, leading to an ongoing investigation by federal officials, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident reportedly occurred during morning drop-off hours, causing minor injuries to the child. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles, particularly in school zones, as Waymo faces scrutiny for its behavior around children and its previous incidents involving illegal passing of school buses. While Waymo stated that the child was seen and the vehicle slowed down prior to the collision, the situation has ignited discussions on the effectiveness and safety of self-driving technology in urban environments.