California regulators have granted Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car division, permission to expand its robotaxi service to include highways in various Bay Area cities and parts of Los Angeles. Despite concerns about the impact of more driverless cars on city streets, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has allowed Waymo to deploy robotaxis on local roads and freeways at speeds up to 65 mph. The company plans to take a cautious and gradual approach to expansion, emphasizing that there are no immediate plans to extend the service to highways.
The decision by CPUC represents a significant expansion for Waymo, which has been providing its 24/7 robotaxi service in San Francisco and Phoenix. While the company is testing its cars on California freeways with a safety driver present, tests in Phoenix involve no human driver on highways. Despite opposition from local officials in San Mateo and Los Angeles counties, CPUC maintains that Waymo has met all requirements and is allowed to expand immediately. The company has also received support from various groups in California, such as the California Bicycle Coalition, who see autonomous driving technology as an opportunity to enhance roadway safety.
The concerns around driverless cars are expected to persist in California, especially following incidents involving Waymo vehicles hitting a closing gate at a university campus and colliding with a cyclist in San Francisco. Additionally, the company recently issued a voluntary software recall for an incident with a pickup truck in Phoenix. However, despite these incidents, none resulted in major injuries. Waymo remains grateful for CPUC’s trust in their operations and is excited to bring the benefits of fully autonomous ride-hailing to more people, with over 15,000 rides already completed in Los Angeles.