Automated Driving Systems Investigations

Below are our completed investigations that involved a vehicle being operated by a developmental automated driving system (ADS) at the time of the crash. The completed investigations describe the issues we discovered and link to the investigation page where we detail the crash, state the probable cause, and link to the public accident docket and other relevant documents.

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Tempe, Arizona

The March 18, 2018, crash in Tempe, Arizona, involved a test vehicle controlled by a developmental automated driving system (ADS) and occupied by a safety driver, striking a pedestrian walking a bicycle across a roadway. We examined these safety issues:

capabilities and limitations of the developmental ADS,
testing operational procedures, oversight of the safety driver,
overall company safety culture, and
the state and federal policies regarding ADS testing.

Read:

Investigation Report
Vehicle automation report that describes the ADS design including its perception processes, and examines crash-related data
Video report that describes information from the vehicle’s forward and driver-facing cameras
Operations report that describes the organization’s structure, including its safety departments
Investigation docket for access to all factual reports and the supporting documentation

Las Vegas, Nevada

The November 18, 2017, crash in Las Vegas, Nevada, involved a low-speed automated shuttle operating on a city street on the first day of testing operation with passengers on board. We examined these safety issues:

the capabilities of the developmental ADS
the shuttle’s operational procedures
the process by which the testing was designed and approved

Read:

Investigation report that includes the findings, recommendations and probable cause
Vehicle automation report that describes the structural organization and functional capabilities of the system
Video report that describes the information from the shuttle’s cameras
Investigation docket with all factual reports and the supporting documentation

Ongoing Investigations

Austin Texas

Austin, Texas, January 12, 2026

On January 12, 2026, about 7:55 a.m. central standard time, a 2024 Jaguar I-Pace sport utility vehicle, equipped with an ADS and operated by Waymo LLC, passed a 2025 Thomas Built school bus, operated by Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD), loading student passengers in Austin, Travis County, Texas.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica, CA January 23, 2026

On January 23, 2026, about 8:30 a.m. pacific standard time, a 2024 Jaguar I-Pace sport utility vehicle, equipped with an automated driving system (ADS) and operated by Waymo LLC, struck a 9-year-old student pedestrian crossing midblock within a school zone in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California.

Updated April 20, 2026

Automated Driving Systems Investigations

Tempe, Arizona

​The March 18, 2018, crash in Tempe, Arizona​, involved a test vehicle controlled by a developmental automated driving system (ADS) and occupied by a safety driver, striking a pedestrian walking a bicycle across a roadway. We examined these safety issues:

Ongoing Investigations

​Austin Texas

​Santa Monica

The March 18, 2018, crash in Tempe, Arizona, involved a test vehicle controlled by a developmental automated driving system (ADS) and occupied by a safety driver, striking a pedestrian walking a bicycle across a roadway. We examined these safety issues:

Austin Texas

Santa Monica