Texas Regulates Waymo After Autonomous Car Blocks Ambulance

A Waymo autonomous vehicle blocked an ambulance responding to a mass shooting at Buford’s in downtown Austin on March 1, 2026. The shooting left three people dead and 15 others injured. An Austin police officer cleared the roadway by moving the vehicle into a parking garage within two minutes. While emergency officials stated the delay did not significantly hinder the overall response, the incident intensified scrutiny of driverless technology in Texas.

This event follows a pattern of safety failures in Austin, where Waymo vehicles have ignored police and blocked traffic. The Austin Independent School District Police Department issued 25 tickets to Waymo since August for illegally passing school buses. These violations triggered federal probes by the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with reports indicating similar school bus violations occurring in Atlanta.

In response to these safety concerns, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will implement new regulations at the end of May 2026. The rules will require autonomous vehicle operators to obtain state authorization and provide emergency responder interaction plans before they are permitted to carry passengers.