Self-drive car hits child, probe starts

• Self-driving car hits child near school; minor injuries.
• Federal review launched into autonomous vehicle safety.
• Waymo vehicle slowed but still struck child.

An autonomous vehicle's encounter with a child near a school has initiated a federal review, highlighting ongoing debates about the safety of self-driving cars in populated areas.

Autonomous Vehicle Encounters Child

On January 23, 2026, an unusual event unfolded outside Grant Elementary in Santa Monica when a child was struck by a self-driving car. Fortunately, the young individual sustained only minor injuries and was able to leave the scene independently. This occurrence has brought renewed scrutiny to the safety protocols of autonomous vehicles, especially in areas frequented by children, leading federal bodies to launch an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Vehicle's Reaction Under Scrutiny

The autonomous vehicle involved in the incident demonstrated a significant reduction in speed upon detecting the child, slowing from 27 km/h to less than 9.66 km/h just before impact. Waymo, the company operating the vehicle, stated that its technology reacted with a speed potentially surpassing that of a human driver. Despite this, the incident has intensified pressure on the company as it seeks to broaden its operations within California, underscoring the public's keen interest in the reliability of these advanced vehicles in ensuring the safety of all road users, particularly younger pedestrians.