California regulators have given the green light for Waymo to extend its fleet of self-driving taxis into Los Angeles and cities on the peninsula south of San Francisco. The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's application for this expansion, marking a significant milestone for the company owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc. Waymo has been operating its self-driving taxi service in San Francisco since 2020 and in Phoenix since the same year.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Waymo expressed gratitude for the commission's approval, referring to it as a 'vote of confidence' in their operations. This decision sets the stage for the deployment of Waymo's commercial Waymo One service in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Peninsula.
Waymo's self-driving cars have become a familiar sight on the streets of San Francisco, although they have faced some criticism for sudden stops that have caused traffic congestion in the city. The company's expansion plans come in the wake of California authorities revoking the license of a rival robotaxi service owned by General Motors. The decision was made after concerns were raised about the safety of the driverless cars operated by the company, Cruise, in San Francisco.
One incident involving a Cruise robotaxi resulted in a pedestrian being hit by another vehicle and then pinned under one of the robotaxi's tires after it came to a stop. This unfortunate event raised questions about the safety and regulation of autonomous vehicles in urban environments. Despite opposition from officials in San Mateo County and Los Angeles, Waymo's expansion signals a growing trend towards the integration of self-driving technology in public transportation systems.
