Self-driving car blocked ambulance after Austin shooting, sparking safety questions
Mar 9th 2026
A viral video shows a Waymo car blocking paramedics at a March 1 Austin shooting scene; officials moved the vehicle quickly but the encounter has heightened scrutiny of autonomous vehicle glitches, school bus violations, federal investigations, and new Texas rules due in May.
- A Waymo vehicle briefly blocked an ambulance responding to the March 1 downtown Austin shooting until an officer moved the car within two minutes.
- Austin officials say the encounter did not significantly hinder emergency response and that first responders are trained on how to manage unresponsive autonomous vehicles.
- The incident renewed concerns after Austin logged 230 AV issues since 2023, including cars blocking traffic, ignoring police directions, and illegally passing school buses.
- Austin ISD issued multiple citations to Waymo for passing stopped school buses, prompting software updates and a company recall after similar failures elsewhere.
- Federal agencies including NHTSA and NTSB have opened probes into Waymo’s school bus incidents, and a preliminary NTSB report found a remote assistance agent gave incorrect direction in one Austin case.
- Texas will require autonomous vehicle operators to gain state authorization and submit emergency interaction plans before carrying passengers starting in May.